The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1888-01-04
CHRIST BEFORE PLATE
Painted BY MUNKACsY.

Tue origtuapic,ure IS one Of
graudest paintings that has Defl
given to tae world in modem time
1t cOver5 about twenty by thirty fe 1t
OF canvas, the figures all being lite
size Everybody is familiar with the
story. The scene L. early morning in |
the prRtoI.um or otiiCia residence OF
the Romsn governor at Jerus"'em |
The pic urc il drawn from desct.p |
tions in the New I, 'tonent OF the !
Appearance aud trial Of Christ
before Plate. 1t is there re-
lated that "when he WAS accused
of the priests and elders, he answered
nothing "And PLATE answered and
said again unto them: What will ye
that shall do unto hlm whom ye call
King of the Jews? ard they cried ont
again, cruelty him" In the centre of
the picture is the figure OF the
Saviour, with his hands bound, erect,
composed, gazing -teadtastly on the
face of PLATE Around and behind
him crowd the rabble of Jcruse EN-,
some frantic, others attracted by idle
curiosity, others apparently bent
merely on killing time. la the imme
diate foreground is u Ron III soldier
holding the mob in check with the
shaft OF bis spear. Pontius Plate sits
rs the representative OF Cesar on the
| Judgment throne. He is meditating
and is greatly perploXed, He knows
nothing against Christ, but dare not
resist the canor Of the people On
| The right of Plate, stands Caisphas
the chief sccuser of Christ, with his
arm extended toward the excited
populace. The figure pressing tor
ward in the crowd with uplitted arms
| is q ruilian of the lowest type. lie is
| shouting "Crucity Him Cruelty
IIimW On the left of Pllate sit two
elders, watching the proceedings
| with deep interest. Between Christ
and Caiaphas, sitting Oh q bench, is a
rich banker, looking on with con-
tcmptuous curiosity. Near him is a
Young rowdY, leaning over the rail"
ing and scotiing in the face ot Jesus.
| Purchcd on high stool by the side OF
| the Judgment seat and resting his head
against the wall is scrib who views
| the scene with al alr OF weary lndif
| ference. A Knot of Old men Is seated
| In all angle of the room TO the lett OF
| the banker. They are apparently ar
guing Christs claim that he is the
promised Messiah. Consplcuously
| raised above the heads OF the crowd
| is seen "A Young mother with Il beHun
| full face, holding child in her arms,
| and looking at Jesus with tenderness
and compassion. Through the whole
| picture are groups of figures and faces
rejecting the different emotions that
animate each individual.
| THIS picture has been on exhibition
in the principal cities of Europe and
is now being exhibited in America
| 1t has been viewed by millions of peo
| ple and has created more sensation
| throughout the entire civilized world
| than any other painting ever produc
| cd In the city of New York it was
on exhibition several mont rs and was
seen by hundreds of thousanDs of peO
pie. 1t was recently sold to John
Wannamaker, of Philadelphis, for
$l20000 in cash.
| Michael Won Munkacsy, the painter
of this wonderful picture, WAS born
III 644 in the fortress OF of Munkacs,
| Hugary. His parents died when he
was five years DID, and poor uncle
who took charge Of him spprenticed
| him to u carpenter Some students
al college where he was working
taught him to read and write. Tie
took an especial interest in history
srd poetry. His first ideas OF
painting were obtained from a
portrait painter, who Instructed
him in drawing aud also
in literature. He soon cyan
to give drawing lessons himself. His
first successful painting was that of
the entire family of a tailor, for which
he received coat in payment. AS
soon as he WAS able he went TO Wen
ma and studied in the museums. His
first artistic triumph WAS The Last
Day of Man Condemned to Death"
and 1t established the universal fame
of the painter. 1t created a great
sensation at Paris and won MIN a
medal. This picture was followed
by "An Episode OF the Hungarian
War of 1S49;" the Might
| Strollers;" the "Pawubroker's Shop
and others, all of which created great
interest throughout Europe, and
Munkacsy's name, although he wss
| but thirty-one years of age, soon filled
the entire artistic world.
PHoTO-ETCHING.
a photo.etching by the Manhattan
Art Company of this famous painting
! is ac.simile OF the original picture,
and is considered the most perfect re.
production OF it that has ever been
offered for sale. The lights and shades
are faithfully portrayed. and the