Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-01-14

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has produced q great sensation IN the
art circles OF Italy, a al the early
paintings Of the great master have been
lost OF destroyed and this is the only
one that has escaped the rEvages of
time and men.
But the most important Of al the
works OF Ralh that mas no; as vet
found us way INTO public collections rs
undoubtedly the great picture known
az the Madonna della Eeclb d. NapOh.
81 present deposited in the National
Gallery, OF London and Which the
prussiau Government Is making every
effort 10 secure. Tire negotiations have
not thus iar been brought 70 8 SUCCESS
ful issue. a. the sun demanded Is
exOrbUant. and the ewes o. the
artistic world are Iust now TUNED on
TINS great art treasure. winch be-
lOngec 70 the court Of Naples.
Ii vas purchased II Rome about the
clOss Of tne last century bv the hing Of
he Two sIcihes. lf was o. That time
IN The l0iOnnG Falnce. and n so
aroused the hing admiration lhat he
purchased II on Jhe spot. Since lDeu %
has cracpd the koval Palace al Naples
hcrt on one occasion I, suffered some
d1maee hv t~e. and narroWlv escaped
destruction. The few cracks Ir the
canvas were repaired b7 che hest ar
ISIS. and few trace. of the damage nov
remain TINS Madonna was TAINTED re
Laphaa II 1905 By order Of the reh-
clous II, Anthony. OF Perugia. WHO
iajd Gown me rules the artist
vus 70 follow The Madonna T.
seated Oh throne and envelope,
II & blue flowing mantle studded
with golden stars. The infant Jesus
reposes on her bosom. with h,s -Inr
hand raised II benedlctlon over tne
child -. John. who Is before nm II
alteration. The nuns compelled Ra-
pHae 90 represent the infants wrapped
III -her MANTLE hGBilimeuts instead OF
painting shem nude, a. wa ms custom
u kindred compositions. SAINTS Peter
and Pau are standing a. the sides OF
the throne. Ihe former with his KEYS
and the latter with ms sword pointing
towards TIT ground. SAINTS Catherine
anc Dorothy. with rhe martyrs pa III
II their hands, appear a. q Lizzie dis
Jance. The perspective ends IN & land
,cape.
These figures Hrc al lle-s.zs. and The
painting itself Il nearly seven Zee;
square. il is one Of Raphael. master
pieces and was executed when the artist
vas II the ful flush Of las genius. It
exhibits more strlkinc.y Jhsu an o.
hIs other works the union OF the Old
stl ie with The new Development Of at.
The disposition Of the figures Is TIA. o.
Tie Ancient masters, but Iht types are
not So asce,lc GnL are more human.
SAINTS Peter and Pau represent the
~. - apostle whose most perfect
n .a-ratior found in the grea,
81. Cecilia. Tie Fv.c,terA-
etec; Is tr.le sOmbts. n0tEl.h-
standing the warmth o. the mes and
the ciearness o. me skln. The semi
crcle directly above me sroup Is occu-
pied By the E.eru2l Father. holding &
sioDe II the left hand, with the r.-ht
raised II beneCIcLI0n. 4 number OF
adOrlDg angels are around MN. The
.iTe a. Naples injured Only tne Two fc-
lres. SAINTS Catherine and DOrOthr
b. int others are a perfect a. when. n
1900. they received the ina touches
rom the immortal master. The two
infants are described a rRvlshlng' z beau
.liul, and German al critics are never
o. denouncng the prudery Of
hs nuns iOr noi having permitted IA
Ihael 10 paint them uuae.
TINS great WORK which Il the last Of
saphael' large paintings th&t is not
.lreacy national property, Is a. present
he subject Of eager competition be
Ween the Germans and English. The
Ierman press with unanimous insist
nee calls on the Government 70 pur-
hase Il before she Eugiisb vii nave
ecuTea It. Il Is certainly the lGst
nance Of Us kind that vii be offered.
'he na.ionR. museums thai possess a.
DE great paintings Of Eaphae. vii
Oubtiess never dispose Of them. and
he Madonna now or exhibition az
ne National Gallery OF London IS
le last work Of large Dimensions that
II ever be offered f0T sale. Two hun
red thousand dollars was the prize
iked for tins chef d'Garre some time
20, but The enormous sum recently
nd for the miniature. 20 The Three ,
races, viii doubtless enhance lis
1ue II the eyes Of It's pOssess0rs. II .
nc az like proportion, according 70
ace Il would be worth nearly 81, BOO I
70. Even the most ardent OF Eaphael'g
lmrers would probably s,Rgger before
Ich figure. q