The Russellville Democrat., 1886-09-15
FROM THE OLD WORLD.
InterestingCorrespondence from
DIR. A. III. Scott.
Correspondence ofthe Democrat.
BRUssELs, BELGIUM,
T..lsx 90 1000

BRUssELs, BELGIUM,
July %, 1886.
Since I wrote you last from Berlin
I have had the pleasure and gratifi-
cation of receiving. two more letters
from Arkansas, one at Frankfort on
the Main and one at this place, from
my father. / arrived here about one
O'clock yesterday and from here /
ran up to Antwerp. city Of two
hundred thousand inhabitants, the
suburbs OF which contain perhaps
forty thousand more. 1t is consid-
cred one of the greatest seaports in
Europe, serving as an outlet for the
commerce OF Germany, as we'll as for
Belgium. II was founded as early as
the 7th century. It's situation on
the Schilde or Escant river which is
1 mile wide and 30 feet deep at high
tide, 60 miles from the sea, rendered
IL a very important and wealthy place
in the middle ages. Its decline be-
gan during the Spanish regime. The
terrors OF the InquisItion banished
thousands of its best citizens who
sought refuge in England, where
they established silk factories and
other Industries. AS an Arsenal 1t
is one OF the strongest in Europe,
and is intended as the rendezvous
for the Belgian army and Is consid-
cred the most interesting Of the
towns of Belgium. The many ele-
CANT pieces Of painting which II pos
sesses gives proof Of its mediayal
prosperity by the revival of Art in
the beginning Of the present century.
She has made vigorous effort to re-
gain the Artistic preemlnence she 10
said to have held during the 17th
century. The most beautiful and
largest Gothic church in the Neither
lands is the aNotre Dame" cathedral
in the form Of crucifix, with triple
aisles, began to be built in 1852.
You enter this church by narrow
| lane at the end of which is the house
of the Concierge, where tickets are
obtained. In Visitors Ring, the
principal pictures are shown gratis
on Sundays and Thursdays, and on
other days Of the week charge and
| fee for admission Of one franc is de-
manded and required.
/ visited this most elegant cathe-
dral and saw the four famous, great
| ~ noted and perhaps unexcelled
pictures made and executed by Ru-
bens one of the most noted artists
ever known, to-wit: The south tran
sept contains the descent from the
Cross a winged picture painted IN
1912, on the inside Of the wings ap
pears the salutation and the presen
tation in the Temple, on the outside
is st. Christopher carrying the In
fant Savior, and hermit is repre-
sented, Mary, the mother Of Jesus,
has on blue Robe. She not only
appears in this picture In this color
but she is represented in nearly all
Of the other pictures drawn Of her IN
tho same stvle and coloring as in
this one. Then on the north tran
sept Of the cathedral appears Rubens
sEievation of the Cross OF Christ,
painted in 1910 soon after his re-
turn from Rome where he had lived
for some eight years. The descent
from the Cross" is the most magnifi
cent Of all these most extraordinary
and very celebrated pictures. The
white linnen ON which the body OF
the Savior lies is peculiar and very
effective feature in it's composition.
The principal figure itself is very
admirably conceived and carefully
drawn and the attitude extremely
expressive of the utter inertncss OF
a dead body. The arrangement OF
the whole is most mastery concep-
ton oil the human mind. The fig-
ures are not too ponderous and the
coiorings are rich, and the pencil
ings exquisilely harmonious, ,evldenc-
ing great sublimity Of sentiment,
thought and genius in its execution,
stamping Rubens as being doubtless
one or the most remarkable and won
derful artists that the world ever
produced. He panied over 400C
lpictures and sketches and among
other noted pictures besides these
here described are those of "lhe Last
Judgement" "Peace and War; etc
He was a son OF a Dutch Refugee
from, Antwerp, but born in Westpha
liza and became very wealthy. As
painter OF portraits and historical
scenes he was almost entirely nnri-
vailed. s.The Elevation Of the Cross,
although inferior to the descent
from the Cross" is most wonderful
and magnificent work also. The
figures are remarkable for their ease
and natural attitudes. In the fig'
ures OF Christ and his cxecutioners
the master artist displays his thor
ough acquaintance Of Anatomy Of
the human frame. The horses are
noble and life like and in symetry
superb, and beautiful. He has even
introduced a dog to give some diver
sity to the scence.
| returned from Antwerp to this
place, Brussels, at S:25 yesterday
and to day visited the famous san
culinary and once bloody battle field
OF Waterloo. The guides seemed te
nut their whole souls into II by CIV
mo ua q fuli description OF IL, show