Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-08-02
WORKS OF ART.
Rich Paintings I'm Some Washington
Churches.

80 AAcsA 40 - paiutiuB VI uIbtOFlc luteTest, q
recent gift to st. Aloysius church from Miss
jamie Riggs, the daughter of the late George
W. Riggs. The subject is "Christ and the Two
Disciples at Emmaus." II is the work Of Rot
tenhamer, pupil Of Tentoretto, one Of the
best German historical painters of the seven
teenth century. The painting came into the
possession OF Miss Riggs some months ago, and
was pronounced by good judges to be work Of
art, but its history and the name of the painter
were not known until quite recently. 1t is now
IN the hands Of an artist being cleaned and re-
stored preparatory to being hung in one Of the
pariors OF the pastoral residence.
ST. ALoYsIUs CHURCH
possesses more paintings than any other church
In the city, and can show them to better advan-
tage, as the architecture Of the interior of the
church will allow of the hanging of several
large pictures under the most favorable circum-
stances of light and shade The most notice.
aDie one is the great painting over the high
| altar representing "The First Communion of
st. Aloysius." This magnificent picture is
from the brush of the well-known italian
artist Brumidi, who spent many years at work
In the Capitol and who died in this city few
years ago before he had completed the famous
| fresco OF the rotunda. The artist drew his in
spiratlon for the picture from the story of the
event In the life OF the youthful saint. 1t was
1
visit Cardinal Charles Borromeo, archbishop of
Milan, and took with him his young son
Aloyslus, then only twelve years of age. "No
sooner had the great cardinal beheld the youth
than, illuminated by a ray of divine light, he
foresaw that he would become
GREAT SAINT OF THE CHURCH.
| "He held long conversation with the youth
and gave him some rules for holy life. Find
ing that he had not made his first communion
he exhorted him to delay it no longer, and to
receive very frequently the divine food, leav-
ing him method of preparation" month
| later the cardinal went to the Castle Of Castig-
| llone, where the memorable event took place.
There being no portraits to be had of either
| st. Aloysius or st. Charles Borromeo the artist
Brumidi looked around for suitable models
from which to paint the faces Of the group.
First he sought among the altar boys of the
church for one to represent the boy saint, and
selected young A. A. Brooke, then twelve years
| OLD, now grown man and a practicing attor-
ney Of this city. For the head of Cardinal Bor-
romeo, archbishop of Milan, he selected Rev.
Father Vassi, Sd, of Georgetown college, and
for the priest assisting the cardinal, Rev. Father
Sesteni, ST., of Georgetown college, and the
| architect of st. Aloysius church. The parents
| OF the boy saint are represented in the faces of
| Gen. Williams and his wife, formerly
THE WIFE OF STEPHEN A. DOUGLAS,
| and in her youth the beautiful Addie Cults
The group was completed by the addition of
| two acolytes, also selected from among the
| altar boys of the church. The scene is in the
private chapel Of the Gonzagas, the figures,
which appear nearly life-size, being grouped
together at the foot of the altar. the cardinal
standing on the first step, the youth kneeling
| upon cushion at his feet. To the left stand
| the father and mother, and to the right of the
celebrant the attending priest with an acolyte
kneeling at his feet with lighted candle, an
other acolyte standing swinging the censor
the soft, mellow light from the altar candles
the ascending smoke of the incense, the solem-
nifty of the occasion all tending to impart a
wonderful effect to the painting. The fame of
this picture has gone all over the land. and
| repeated have been the attempts to allow artists
to make copies of it, but the requests have
been denied, with one exception. About two
years ago the request came that a copy might
be made to adorn the Drexel memorial chapel
in the cathedral in Philadelphia. This was
granted, and the painting was taken down to
allow the artist Costaggini to make a small
copy as a model for full-size one. which now
hangs in the church in Philadelphia.
TWO OTHER PAINTINGS IN THIS CHURCH
are worthy Of mention-"The Good Shepherd"
occupying large panel over the side altar to
the left of the sanctuary; companion piece,
''The Immaculate Conception" occupies
similar place over the altar to the right of the
sanctuary. These paintings originally came
from Mexico, and are supposed to have been
painted there. The Stations of the Cross are
also works Of art, being paintings in oil by
Galiardi OF Rome, and were purchased by Rev.
Father Mcclure while pastor of the church.
The same artist made copies of these pictures
for church in Louisville, KY.
ST. PATRIcK's CHURCH
has in its possession at least two paintings of
worth. Residents of the parish who worshiped
that wao torn
years ago will remember the large painting
that hung in the church representing ST. Louis
Burying the Dead at Damiata." The canvas is
12x8 feet in dimensions, and when the new
church was completed it was found there was
no panel or place large enough to receive it;
consequently it now occupies place unframed
in one of the parlors of the pastoral residence.
The painting is one of two that were sent as
gifts to this country by Charles X, king of
France, and presented through the French min
lister. one to Rev. Father Matthew, pastor of st.
Patrick's, the only church in Washington, and
one to the archbishop of Baltimore who had it
put into the Cathedral, where it can now be
seen. 1t is greatly to be regretted that so valu-
able work OF art and historical painting should
be hid from the eyes of the public. The other
painting referred to as belonging to this church
II a head of st. Paul by a well-known Italian
artist of the last century. An effort was made
not long since to procure this painting for an
a. SAhipAsAOu, Ous WisuOut buCCcsss
ST. PETERS CHURCH
is the owner of a painting of the head of their
great saint, which is greatly admired by artists
and pronounced to be q remarkable work.
There il a well-founded tradition that the pic
ture once belonged to the court of Spain and
found its way to this country through one of
our ministers to Madrid. The pastor of the
church believes it to be the work of one of the
old masters. and puts high value on it in con-
sequence. The altar piece of this church,
''The Worshiping of the Magi," is a beautiful
work of the modern school of painting.
While on the subject of paintings it may be
of interest to know that Signor Greyoyi is
painting two portraits for the new Catholic
uniyersity-one of Right Rev. John Carroll,
first archbishop of Baltimore; the other,
George Washington. the first President of the
United States. These paintings will be hung
in the parlor of divinity hall. one OH either
side of the portrait of Leo XIII by Ugolini.
presented to the university by the holy father,
through Bishop Keane.
Marriage Licenses.