The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1876-09-28
Some Queer Errors and An.
achrOnismS.

tations we frequently find objects in
troduced long before the period of |
their existence, and, to bring out an
effect, historical truth has been in |
many cases ignored. In this respect |
Raphael D'Urbino was great trans
gressor; he introduces a hewn-stone
step into "The Expulsion from Para
disc" and book bound in the neatest
possible modern manner into the we'll
known picture Of "Elymas the Sorcerer
Struck Blind" 4 host of other artists
appear to have believed that the Viz
gin Mary was in the habit of studying
a mass-book, and that the Hebrew
Kings wore robes similar to those of
Henry VIII.
That there is nothing new under the
sun is a maxim the broad truth of
which will be conceded by most men;
but when Albert Durer goes so far as
to introduce tent-bedstead, COM
modiOus cooking-range and an array of
china candlesticks, surmounted by
modern-shaped candles, into his
Birth of the Virgin" the spectator
is not unnaturally inclined to doubt
whether the painter was altogether
justified in his creations.
When buttons were invented is Il
problem that very probably cannot
Cc1y lint ,r
whether they were used in the days of
isaac. Silvio Manage, however, evil
IDENTIFY thought such to be the case, for
in his picture of the sale of Joseph to
the IshmaeliteS, the coat of one of the
brothers is not only fastened, but even
decorated by their means. Lucas Van
Leyden, too, was bold enough to put a
chignon on the head of Soel, The wife
of Heber, the Kenite; and, not con-
tent with this, he Surmounted the edi-
flee with beautiful coal-scut-
tie bonnet of straw. Sal1ator
Rosa is another tresspasser in the mat
ter of head-dreSSes. An exquisite
work by this master represents the
Baptist preaching in the wilderness;
but the whole effect is spoiled by the
presence in the background of some
iaunty spectators in SLOUGH hats and
Haunting feathers. Van Dycll him
self represents one of the apostles in
sea boots in his picture of "The
Miraculous Draught Of Fishes" which
is now in the National Gallery. And
Paul Neronese paints some italian
peasants i'll felt hats and plumes, calm
ly contemplating the Alteration of the
Magi. Agostino Caracci, in picture
of "TObias Amounting His Father
Eyes, puts the two men in shoes; and
n. POuiSsin, in his celebrated "PaSs-
age of the Red Sea-" introduces Ro-
man armor of the time of the Emper-
ors, regardless Of the well ascertained
fact that the Egyptians about the days
of the Hycsos did not indulge in metal
armor at all. In one of Raphaers
best works the TRANSPORTATION mOnop-
OliZes the upper part of the canvas,
while i'll the lower portion the man
possessed with an evil spirit is being
simultaneously healed; and in a Elem
iSh painting of some note several cor
pulent Doors, with clay pipes in their
nOuths, are gazing in wonder at
David, who is carrying the head of
GoIiah. Indeed, the history of the
poor King is made q frequent medium
for anachromism; for in another pic
ture of the death Of Goliah. the giant
wears no armOr except a plumed he'll
met, and in Il third David is hurting at
his adversary a rough stone instead of
pebble. At his subsequent triumph,
according to yet another painting, Da-
vid is received by Greek maidens in
front Of an Italian building surn0unt-
ed by flags, while two pyramids in the
background vainly do their best to
lend harmony to the scene.
Abraham has been shamefully treat
ed by his illustrators. A Spanish
artist represents him as about to shoot
Isaac with II pistol; and the patriarch
is almost always represented as man
of not more than sixty years of age at
most. A very common anachrOniSm
is the introduction of Italian archi-
lecture into Eastern scenes. Claude,
for instance, in his Embarkation of
the Queen of Sheba,' and BenO, of
Fernara, in his "Jerome in the Des-
ert," do so; and examples might be
multiplied 0d inhiRitum. Claude, in
the Embarkation of Saint Ursula"
also introduces ships of the type in
use at the middle of the seventeenth
century; and Boccaccio Boccaccino,
in the Procession to Calvary" fills
up his background with fine broad
river covered with shipping, in spite
of the well-knOwn fact that nothing
of the sort exists near Jerusalem.
How the disciples, in Raphael's
Miraculous Draught of Fishes"
managed to preserve their equilibrium
in the very minute boats to which the
artist has treated them is a mystery;
and why Claude should have celebrat-
ed the marriage of Isaac and Rebecca
in front of Il waterfall that might al
most vie with that Of Niagara, is a
riddle that will probably never be
solved.
The Illustrations to NeWton's Bible,
which was published in I'LL, contain
some curious errors and anachronisms
that are little known. Solomon is be-
ing anointed under the shadow of Il
pyramid; and the destruction of Dagon
takes place in building very similar in
appearance to st. Paul's Cathedral in
London. David is singing before the
ark from a scroll that is conveniently
held in front of him by winged but
legless cherub; and Sapphira dies in
the street. In picture representing
the death of the lying prophet, the
dead man wears a coat and trousers:
and in another, depicting Elijah and
the priests of Baal, there is an altar,
but no surrounding trench. Perhaps
the most fragrant engraving in the col
lection is one of Daniels Dream, which
introduces four great beasts that do
not i'll the least answer the description
of them given in the text Forum