The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-10-28
MUyKACSY'S GREAT PAINTING.
The Christ on Calvary in IndianapOlis-SOme-
thing of Picture and Painter.

The exhibition Of Munkscsyis wonderful
painting, Christ on Calvary" opened to the
public, at Plymouth Church, last evening.
There was q first visw,' for which invitations
were sent, in the afternoon. at which many of
the leading clersymen, members Of the press
and prominent socisty people were present. As
one enters the auditorium and looks upon the
great canvas which hlls the entire pulpit space,
he 10 apt so forget for . moment that he is look
ing upon Q picture; the figures before him seem
like living persons on q stage. There seems an
actual atmosphere in the painting; itappears as ii
one mieht walk up to and around the crosses
and mingle with these people OF nearly nineteen
centuries ago. As master Of the art Of COM
position, and the effects Of light. shade and at
mosphers, Munkacsy has few rivals. As a col
orist. he has none. By able critics be Is ranked
- che greatest living artist, and by many, bis
works are considered superior 20 the pictures
Of the venerated old masters. His most noted
paintings are the Christ before Plate and the
country, by John Wansmaker. Of Philadelphia.
Tho "Christ on Calvary" illustrates the 33d.
44th and 46th verses OF St Luke:
And when they were come TO the place
which 10 called Calvary. there they crucifed Him
aud the mslefactors, the one on the right hand.
the other on the left And It was
about the sixth hour, and there was Q darkness
over all the earth until the ninth hour. ="
And when Jesus had cried with q loud voice, he
said: Father. into thy hands commit my
spirit"
The three crosses are ut the extreme right OF
shs picture. The central cross. on which hangs
the SAVER, II Illuminated by 3 fash of light
breaking through the dark clouds that veil the
sky. The figure Of Christ 10 . marvellous piece
Of painting, and no one who sees 1t can ever for
get it. Munksesy's ideal of Christ differs from
that Of any painter who has preceded him. He
represents the Savior az q man Of strong char
acter but great self control, rather than as q man
Of excessive meekuess, with a suggestion of
weakness. which is the type most artists
have evolved. 10 the painting, Christ before
PLATE" one may study this ideal more satisfac-
torily, perhaps, than in the Christ on Calvary
but in the latter picture there Is wonderful
power In the face which is raised toward heaven,
with an expression Of suffering ~glori6ed by the
consciousness that the Divine will is being ac-
complished.
At the foot OF the cross are Mary, the mother
Of Christ. Mary Maedalene and Mary. the mother
of James and Joses, near whom stand St John
and Joseph OF Arimathea. This Is a most i'm
prsssivs group. in which are expressed love,
sympathy and the deepest anguish. Beyond are
Roman soldiers, scribes, priests, Pharisses
and q vast crowd. attracted. for the
most part. by morbid curiosity. Almost
every phase OF human expression is depicted in
these faees-hatred, triumph, indifference,
doubt, and In one or two instances by repent
ancs and dawnine faith. But this gives q very
insufficient idea of the picture. Aa one looks at
it he constantly discovers new elements Of in
terest, and the figures grow to seem even more
real than at first sight.
The painter Of the great picture was born in
Hungary about forty-fvs years ago When
four years old he was left an orphan. and his
early life was a struggle with poverty and mis-
fortune. He was first q carpenters apprentice.
earning about q dollar q week for six days
labor Of about fifteen hours q day.
was ir decorating the large chests OF drawers
which are usually an indispensable portion OF a
Hungarian brides t~rossssu. he found difficulty
in obtaining art Instruction. being turned away
from several great schools to which be sought
admission, partly because the schools were
crowded, but mainly because the applicant was
door. Hetoiled on without the coveted instruc-
ton until he achieved q position higher than
that OF any master in the schools which refused
him. To-day, wealthy, famous, ennoblsd by
the Austrian Emperor, and sought after by the
highest society. he can look back upon . career
In which the contrasts Of lie have been most
extreme; in which the events have
been most romantic and in which
tional. His pictures, though commanding
enormous prices are in great demand. Exam
pies of his art are owned by the Emperor Of
Austria: Dom Pedro, of Brazil: Prince Demi-
dof, Of st Petersburg. and IN many notable
public and private galleries. Several OF his pict-
ures are 10 this country, in the collections Of
the late w. II. Vanderbilt, William Astor. Jay
Gould, August Belmont. George /. Seney, Judge
Hilton, and the Lenox Library and Metropolitan
Museum. Of New York; W. 7. Walters, Of Bal
timors; Gov. Ames, of Massachusetts,; ex-Gov.
Aleer. Of Michigan; john Wanamaker, II. G.
G,bson and Mira. II. Wilstaeh, Of philadelphia.
There was . hne example also in the A. 7.