The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-17

THE STOLEN MURILLo.

The part played oy Mr.. Schaus the well known
picture dealer OF this city, In restoring TO spain
the stolen Murllio deserves the strongest common.
datioD. Had II not been lor his tact the art trea-
sure OF which Seville. and indeed all Spain, Is SO
proud, might have been lost forever. owing TO
the absence OF an eytradition treaty the thieves
on reaching this country were sheltered from the
punishment due to their vandalism. When the
men In whose possession the picture was called
on Mr.. Schaus his suspicious were at once aroused
by their strange conduct. They were evidently
III at ease, and though very anxious 10 dispose Of
their Murll!o. they refused positively TO name any
price. Neither would they disclose the place
where they kept the picture concealed. After
some clever fencing Mr.. Schaus induced them to
bring the work to his store and was
at once convinced that 1t was the por-
be en Stolen the 1reat p'oss .ye wnsa
so much, however. vas the WORK managed that IT
was scarcely recognizable. Ia their haste ana
ignorance the thieves had rolled up the canvas
without precautlon. UEder this rude treatment
much OF the pant peeled on from the lace, the
lett eye especially being badly damaged.
COOL AND CLEAR HEADED.
Mr.. schaus at once pointed out TO the men that
and tnat before 1t could be Offered Tor sale It
would be necessary TO send 1t to Europe to be re-
paired. 1t was owing to this TACT that the men
Consented to sell the damaged painting Tor the
ridiculously small sum OF $3.50. lhey were evi.
IDENTITY unaware that reward OF sio ooo NAG oeen
Schaus with credtaDe generosity, disclaims any
desire TO OBTAIN the reward lie considers that
treasure where II belonged We snail be much sur
prlsed II the spanish government allows Itself to
be outdone in generosity. We ieel convinced
that some suitable acknowledgment Will be given
to Mr.. scnaus Tor his action In this matter.
delightful Handbook OF Spain" Will he remem-
bered by all who nave had occasion TO consult IT,
Unfortunate uni According to this somewhat Otter
critic OF everything Spanish the work was re-
touched In 1883 and received much injury IN Tue
process. 1t may be well TO remark however that
this charge oil retouching Is very often maue by
Ford without any founaation. In the case OF sew
eral valuable paintings In the Madrid collection
the charge was brought as in the latter case.
but the authorities denied that tue pictures
alluded to had ever been submitted 10 any pro-
cess OF cleaning or ietouchine. The San Antonio
de Paoua Is one OF Murilio's most important
~orks and was considered one OF his best. IL was
painted about the year 1850 Tor the Cathedral
IRON which it has been stolen. 1t represented
monk kneellng in all attitude ol prayer. The
OF the altar, visible IN the lower plane-Dut .
vision of the Infant saviour, surrounded by angels
VISION Is represen ted IN
HALO OF GLORY.
One OF those delightful vaporous effects which
no artist has ever painted as did MurillO. The
Saint Is In ecstasy. and has forgotten the cold,
sombre world, so well Indicated oy the gloom OF
the lower plane. With hands upralsed and up-
turned lace nc does homage TO the Saviour In
tense IN its religious feeling. yet the work Ia
perry AIDED with the sweetness and grace when so
Distinguish Murlo's religious pictures IRON the
gloomler conceptions OF tue spanish school or art
Owing to the size OF this work the thieves were
unaDie to do more than appropriate portion OF
1t. They therefore confined themselves TO cutting
out the figure OF the mOnK-San AntOniO-whlcn
they were able to do without damaging any OF the
other figures OF the composition. by calling in
the aid Of skul artists the WORK can be restored,
go tnat the Of the vandals will arcely detracu
rom the beauty OF the masterpiece, except IN so
far as the Damage done to the lace by rOlln2 tie
canvas Is irreparabe-that Is to say. though 1t
may present 10 the eye perfect ensemble, the
alnt OF the restoration Will detract from tne value
OF the work as relic Of the great spanish mas.
tel