Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1879-03-26


I ana we are noble, but, nevertheless.
those honors are conditional. You will
De chosen painter to the Queen if YOU
succeed IN gaining the prize which is
9nered for the most perfect head of the
Madonna"
An! madam, if the patronage of
her Majesty is offered me only on those
conditions | shall not obtain ii"
And why not?'
Because shall not gain the prize"
replied he, with an expression of sad
ness which was instantly reflected on
the face OF Lucy.
Why do You refuse this honor? Do
/ you fear to fail9'
NO, madam; but how shall repre-
sent as She should be represented the
mother OF the Saviour? Where shall |
find model, As he pronounced
these words his eyes rested on the an
gehc face of Lucy. Il have hitherto
sought In vain the combination of mild
ness, sweetness and candor which should
characterize the Queen of Heaven
The fire of genius which Illuminated
the handsome countenance of Van
/ Dyck elected the admiration of all OBJ
servers.
But | should imagine that there
would be no difficulty in obtaining mod
/ els of painters"
The models which can be obtained
for hire are beautiful, without doubt.
/ have sought in vain for the dignity
and purity which | have never seen
united but in noble lady who would
] iii SJI 70, Oft 10
The animated and ardent glance of
Van Dyck embarrassed Lucy: 1t told
her chat he had at last found the object
mis- fancy depicted. The Duchess,
however, had not observed it, and
asked.
"Who is this noble LADY,"
The virgin herself, madam" Bow
ing profoundly and giving parting
glance at Lucy, he added: "If | gain
the prize you shall see me again, mad
am, if not leave England"
He took immediate possession of his
apartments, where he could ut the same
time paint his Madonna and copy the
frescoes for the chapel. With his mind
full of the celestial face he had Just
seen, he seized his pencil and endeav-
ored 10 trace her lineaments. But the
extreme sensibility so useful to art
when time has Gained it was now his
chief obstacle. He felt too deeply to
succeed in expressing the idea which
filled his soul. The day passed in
fruitless attempts and the night sur
prised him, dissatisfied and Respondent.
In the meantime Lucy had suffered
severely for the preference shown her
by Van Dyck. The envy and jealousy
of her companions found vent in i'm
pertinent sarcasm; so that, on separ-
ating for the night, her mind was filed
with his idea, and, after her nightly
prayer, his name was the last on her
lips.
II was midnight The heavens shone
with thousand sparkling, stars, and a
dark light spread itself on the old abbey,
which stood solitary and alone among
its ruins.
A window Of the palace opened, and
a shadow passed slowly along the bal
cony and staircase, crossed along the
court and reached the monastery.
1t would be difficult to say how this
figure had left the palace and rene-
well acquainted with all the turnings,
for In short time she crossed the long
avenue, and arriving at one end of the
galleries of the chapel, she found her
self in the painters work-room, and,
passing lightly on, seated herself, with |
out looking around her, Immediately in
front of his easel.
Oh. surprise! Oh. JOY. this being so
calm, so beautiful, is Lacy The de-
spending artist who had been unable to
retrace her features on his canvass now
beheld a living model before his eyes,
What could have induced her to come ?
What idea could have giveL her the
courage and resolution? He threw him /
self on his knees before her but Lucy
mOtiOning him to rise pointed to his |
pencil. Her look penetrated him with !
II flame so pure that he forgot the real |
ity of his vislon-hiS astonishment !
seemed to him want of faith. Trans !
ported by his Imagination to an ether |
cal sphere, be seemed above the earth |
and in the midst of the sublime con- |
certs of angels he beheld Mary en-
vironed by divine rays. He was no
longer the powerless artist who had just |
thrown at his feet his unsuccessful |
pencil-the artist replaced the man.
Mute and breathless, inspired 10y mya-
terious strength, he seized his palette. !
His colors gave the form and his soul
the life-in few hours he created the |.
most beautiful and most pure of vir-
gins.
When the young girl saw that after
tracing her features he vas occupied in
imparting to his picture the soul which |
animated him, she rose silently, and I
with calm and assured step left the |