The Portland daily press., 1881-02-17
MECHANICS LECTURE COURSE.
What We Stumbled Upon One Day in
Florence.

Such was the title of Mr.. Elwell's delightful
lecture before the Mechanics Association last
evening.
The lecturer told how he and his artist
friend, setting out one blazing day in Florence,
in search of the Academy of Fine Arts, after
peering behind the heavy curtains which in
place of doors shut out from the churches the
glare and noise of the outer world; after
crossing fiery squares, and creeping along in
the grateful shade of massive walls, in narrow,
high-built streets, at last wandered into an
ancient building which proved to be the Con-
vent OF San Marco, of all the historical edfces
of the city, perhaps the most interesting and
attractive. 1t was here that the Dominican
brother of blessed memory painted his immor-
tai pictures; it was here that the good Arch.
bishop Antonnie earned his canonization by his
sanity deeds; it was here that Savonarola
preached to excited crowds, and it was here
seeking the blood of the prophet who had not
given it the miracle it demanded. Confiscated
by the state in 1868, this historic building is no
longer convent, but museum OF art.
Following the guide the lecturer found him.
self in the attic story of the building, with
row of small cells on each side OF it. These
were the dormitories, each one of which was
illuminated by Fra Angelica, the artist brother
of the Order of Dominicans, with a scene from
the life of the Savior, painted in fresco on the
wall These pictures are of marvellous beau
ty, and the lecturer found artists engaged in
copying them. He pictured the life of the
monks of Fra Angelico's time-four hundred
years ago-busy and useful men, each engaged
in his own avocation in this secluded attic,
then one wide dormitory without separate
cells, as now.
He sketched the life of Fra Angelica, whose
name was Guido, the son of Peter, born near
Florence in 1887 monk in the convent in
the neighboring hilltop of Fiesole, pursuing
his art, first as miniaturist and illuminator of
missals, then as decorator of converts and
churches, painting for the love of God and not
for money, kneeling at his work and praying
over it, q gentle, sanity spirit who would
paint angels but would not paint devils or
aught that was evil, and SO won the name of
the Angelical Brother of Blessed Memory
Called to Rome by the Pope, he there execut-
ed some great works, declined the Archbishop
ric of Florence and died there in the midst of
his artistic labors at the age of 6S years. AS
an artist he was pure, serene and spiritual as
man he was simple, humble, loving and pa
tient.
The guide moved on and the lecturer next
found himself in the cell of Savonarola, the
high-hearted monk who undertook the hope
less task of reforming the church when at its
worst. There was his rugged face upon the wall
giving one the sense of an actual presence;
there were his writings showing fine and de-
licate hand.
Savonarola made quick work OF life. His
active career, so crowded with events, is all
comprised within little more than twenty years.
Born at Ferrara in 1852, we see him first sad
and silent youth, given to the utterance of
strong emotions in silent places; then abandon
ing his fathers home to enter the convent of
st. Dominic because of the misery of the
world, and the iniquitieS of men; next, called
to Florence where ae becomes grand preacher
denouncing the corruption of the city; then
its ruler, making laws for its government,
burning its vanities in great bonfires, organi-
zing its gamins of the street into white robed
messengers of reform, incurring the hatred of
the dissolute Borgia, then Pope of Rome;
silenced by him, excommunicated, trapped in
to an ordeal by fire. beset by the mob disap-
pointed of its promised miracle, condemned
by the church as hereto, hanged and burned
at the door of the old palace of the Signoria-
an ardent, power-loving soul, not touched by
fanaticism, but believing in great and good
ends, and longing to achieve those ends by his
own strong will.
The guide again moves on, and the curtain
falls on Savonarola. 1t rises again in long
narrow hall, draped with the gorgeous banners
borne on the occasion of the celebration of the
sixth centennial anniversary of the birthday
OI Oduu0. 1Qe lecturer mere glanced at the
career of Dante, showing that he labored for
the unity of Italy which did not come until
six centuries later, and is now symbolized by
these banners of the great cities of Italy, pre-
served in honor of his memory.
The lecturer went out of San Marco fee ling
that he had been cOmmuning with a past still
living in the present. The poet, the painter
and the preacher still live in Florence. And
how are their memories preserved, and ever
held in mind as examples to be emulated by
the generation of to-day? By the all-pervading e
infiuence OF art. Everywhere in public
statues of the mighty dead everywhere their
monuments are built, everywhere their por-
traits hang upon the wall. The boys in the
streets know them: their memory is ever pre-
sent.
Citizens of Portland returning from abroad
look with pleasure upon their own fair city
again. For beauty of situation it will bear
comparison with any city in foreign lands No
fairer landscapes than those commanded by
our own hills; no streets so wide,w well built and
shaded as ours; no pleasanter homes enjoyed
by any people anywhere. And yet there Is a
sense of something wanting; something which
made the charm of those old cities, so unat-
tractive in themselves. We miss the element
of art which has entered into them, but is abb
sent here. No statues adorn our squares, no
memories of the past are preserved in monu-
ments or public buildings. This is not because
we have no past. In the two hundred and
fifty years which have elapsed since our first
settler built his rude hut ON the shore, worthy
lives have been lived here, and stirring scenes
have been witnessed. Why should they all be
anything of Portland's history by anything he
sees there? What name is held in remem
brance among us? We are not wanting in
representative men. For a type of the ad-
venturous men, who made the beginnings Of
things, who struck into the wilderness here
and laid the foundations of states, what better
man than our own first settler, sturdy George
| Cleaves?
Who can better stand for the early divine.
| who did SO much to make this well-ordered
community, as Parson Smith, who went in
| and out before his people for more than sixty
| years? Among the heroes who sustained the
| honor of their native land in the early day:
| when it had reputation to establish and &
| place to earn among the nations of the earth
| who better deserves to be remembered thar
| Commodore Preble? Of statesmen, where, in
these days shall we find the example of purity
| integrity and ability combined, which our owl
| Fessenden presents to the world? And among
poets of our day who has earned wider rec
| ognition than our own poet of the household
| Henry Wadsworth Longfellow?
Portland has not honored her great names
She has not even built her soldiers monu
ment. Other cities and towns of our stat
have not been so neglectful- notably Auburn
which has statues of public men and benefac
tors Why should we lag behind in this grea
| work of honoring noble men, and so preserv
| ing the memory Of their deeds as examples fo
| those who are to come after US? A statue of
great naval hero, statesman or poet, stands no
merely for himself, but for an example O.
patriotism, public spirit, or the sweet infu
| ences of pure and melodious song. Can we af
| ford to forego the educating and elevating in
fuences of art, when it commentaries all tina
| is best in the life of a community, all the grea
deeds of the past?