The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-10-29

| lures are not today 80 much on paper rs
! on canvas, not so much in ink us in all the
colors of the spectrum. In 1888 forth
from Strasburg, Germany, there came q
child that was 10 eclipse in speed and
holiness and grandeur anything and
everything that the world had seen since
the first color appeared on the sky nj the
creation, Paul Gustav Dore. At eleven
years OF age he published marvellous
Autographs OF his own. Saying nothing
OF what he did for Millions Paradise
Lost" emblazoning il on the attention OF
the world, he takes up the book OF books,
the monarch of literature, the Bible, and
in his pictures "The Creation of Light"
"Tho Trial Of Abraham's Faith, "Tho
Burial Of Sarah" Joseph Sold by his
Brethren" "The Brasen Serpent" "BoE
and Ruth" David and Goliath, "rhe
TRANSPORTATION, "Thc Marriage in
Cana, Babylon Fallen" and POS Scrip.
tural scenes in all, with boldnoss
and grasp and almost supernatural ailla-
tus that make the heart throb, and the
brain reel, and the checks blanch, and the
entire nature quake with the tremendous
things OF God and eternity aud the dead.
| actually staggered down the steps of the
London art gallery under the power OF
Dore's "Christ Leaving the Pactorium.'
| Profess you TO be a Christian man OF
woman, and see no divine mission in art,
and acknowledge you no obligation either
in thanks to God or mani
II Is no moro the word OF God when put
before US in printers ink than by skilliul
laying ON OF colos, or designs on metal
| through incision or c0rrosion. What q
lesson in morals was prcsentedby Hogarth,
the painter, in his two pictures, The
Rako's Progress" and The Miser's
Feast" and by Thomas Coles engravings
Of the "Noyage Of Human Life" and the
Course OF Empire" and by Turner'S
Slave Ship" God in art Chris, In aril
Patriarchs, prophets and apostles in art
Angels In artl Heaven In artl
The world aud the church ought to come
to the higher appreciation of the divine
mission Of pictures, yet the authors OF
them have generally been left to semi.
starvation. West, the great painter, toiled
in interpretation till, being n great skater,
while on the ice he formed the ncquaint.
ance OF Gen. Howe, OF the English army
and through coming 10 admire West AZ q
skater, they gradually came 10 Rpprcciat,
as much that which he accomplished by
his hand ~ by his heel. Poussin, the
mighty painter, was pursued, and had
nothing with which 10 defend himself
against the mob but tho artists portfolio,
which he held over his head 20 keep of
the stones hurled at him. The pictures OF
Richard Wilson. OF England, were sold for
fabulous sums OF money after his
death, but the living painter was
glad To get for his "Alcyono" piece
Of Stilton cheese. From 1910 20 lGi3 there
were 1900 pictures williully destroyed.
In the reign OF Queen Elizabeth Il was tho
habit OF some people 20 spend much OF
their time in knocking pictures 10 pieces.
In the rcigu OF Chaslcs |. II was ordered
by Parliament that all pictures OF Christ
| be burnt. Painters were NJ badly treated
and Inundated in the beginning Of the
Eighteenth century that they wcrc low.
| cred clear down out 81 the eublimity o
their art, and Obliged 70 give minute &c
counts 81 what they did with their colors
~ u painters bill which came 90 publica
ton IN Scotland, In 1907, indicated. Tho
painter had been touching up some Old
pictures in the church, and lac sends In
this iiemized bill a. thc ycstry; ITO filling
up q chink in the Rcd Eca aud repairing
the damages 10 Phamoh'a hosts" ito a
new pair Of hands for Daniel In tho lions
den, and now sct Of teeth for the lion.
cS-," 'to repairing Nebuchadnozlar'H
beard" "to giving blush 10 the cheek Of
Eve on presenting the apple 10 ADAM;
"lo making bride for the Good Samari.
ian's horse, and mcnding one Of his legs
TO putting on now handle on Moses
basket aud fitting bulrushcs, and adding
more fuel 90 the fire In Ncbuchadnezzar'
furnace" 40 painters were Inundated
clear down below the majesty Of their art
The oldest picture In England, a portrait
Of Chauccr, though now Of great value
was picked out Of n lumber garrett. Grcal
were the trials Of Quentin MAiHyH. who
tOilcd ON from blacksmith's anvil till ~ a
painter lie won wide recognition. The
inst missionaries 20 Mexico made the
fatal mistake Of destroying pictures, ioT
the loss Of which art and religion
must ever lament but Why 20 NJ
far back when In this year OF our lord
1888, aud within twelve years 81 the twcn
ticth century, 10 bc n painter, except IN
rare exceptions, means poverty and neg
lcct7 poorly fed, poorly clad, poorly
housed, because poorly appreciated. When
hear man say he IL q painter ] hay,
two feelings, one Of admiration Tor th,
greatness oi his soul, and the other OF com
mlscraiion for the needs Of his body.
but NJ Il has been In all departments %
noble work. Some 81 the mighticst hay,
been hardly bcstead. Oliver Goldsmith
had such Dig patch on the coat over hii
left breast that when he went anywhere ht
kept his hat In his hand closely pressed
over tho patch. Tho world renowned
Bishop Asbufy had 4 salary of s6i a year
Painters arc not the only ones who hay,
endured the lack oi appreciation. leI
men 81 art take under their patronage Oh,
suffering men OF art. They lift NO com
plant, they make no strike for higheI
wages Hut with n kccnncu Of nervous
organization which almost always chamc
ierizos gcniun, these artists suffer mon,
than anyone but God can realize. 1hcu
needs tO bo a concerted effort for the sui
iering artists u America, not sentimental
discourse about what We owe 10 artists, bu
contracts that will give them a livelihood
for am In full sympathy with the Chris
tian farmer, who was very busy gathering
his fall apples, and SOMEONE asked him {,
pray for y poor family, the father Of which
hnd broken his leg and the busy larmcI
said: ~ cannot stop now Ia pray, but
you cal go down into the cellar and vel
some c0fncd beef, aud butter, and eggs
aud potatoes, that h all | can do now.
Artists may wish lot our prayers, but thcy
also want practical help from men who car
give them work
You have heard scores Of sermons for al
other kind Of suffering men and women,
but think thisis tho FIRST sermon oyoI
preached that made plea for The suffer
Ing men aud women Of American art
Their work IA moro true 10 nature and lii'
than any Of the masterpieces that have DO