Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-12-28
Mr.. CARNEGIE'S GIFT.
A True Copy Of the San SistO Madonna
Given to the Cathedral.
PAINTED BY HERR sCHLEsSER.
How the King of saxOny Granted the Great
Artists Request.
BISHOP PHELAS HAS TIE SIGN MANUAL

On Christmas Eve Bishop Phelan was the
pleased recipient Of note from Mr.. Andrew
Carnegie, requesting his acceptance of a
faithful copy of Raphael's famous painting,
the madonna di San Sisto.'' The note
was dated from New York, and was brought
to the Episcopal residence in Allegheny by
one of Mr.. Carnegie's Pittsburg agents.
After briefly describing the subject Of the
painting. the letter goes on to relate
the means by which it was procured.
The original San Sisto Madonna, that
noblest of Madonnas." as Ruskin calls it,
is, ana has been for centuries, in the great
Dresden gallery. Now the Kings of Saxony
have ever and always sternly refused to
allow any of their myriad art treasures to be
duplicated. EngraVings nave been made of
the great pictures, but these have not been
permitted to go out of the Kings possession.
Consequently an authentic copy of any OF
the Dresden pictures would be very valu-
able; and copy of the gem of the grand
collection, the madonna di San Sisto,"
ought to fetch small fortune.
A GOOD PRICE PAID.
Of course Mr.. Carnegie, in his letter,
never even hints at the sum paid by him for
the picture. He merely describes the man
ner in which the King of Saxony
was prevailed on to allow the
copy to be made. Herr SchIesser, the
historical painter OF the Saxon Court, sue
ceeded in reproducing the royal face and
figure upon canvas in manner that tickled
the royal vanity to great degree. In the
good old style of the monarchs of bygone
days the King allowed the clever artist to
ask any boon the fulfllment of which was
within the bounds of possibility, giving him
at the same time substantial pecuniary re-
ward for his successful labors The daring
painter at once asked permission to copy the
Madonna di San Sisto." The royal word
was plighted, and the boon had to be
granted. An order was issued under the
Kings sign manual, authorizing Herr
Schlesser to reproduce the Madonna, and to
do whatever he liked with the copy. This
was indeed departure. Herr Schlesser set
to work, and after intense labor finished his
copy, which is said to be an admirable one,
and well worthy of the famous original.
just then the philantnropic millionaire
from over seas CHANGED into cultured Dres-
den; saw the newly finished copy, and pur-
chased it for the benefit of his Catholic
townsmen in far-of PittSburg.
Mr.. Carnegie's letter was short and con-
else one. 1t expressed wish that the pict- |
ure might be hung sin the Cathedral of
Pittsburg," and when it arrives Bishop
Phslan will place it in conspicuous position |
there, with a suitable inscription attached.
THE KINGS DOCUMENT.
When Bishop Phelan accepted the prof.
fered gift he was presented with the original |
document authorizing the copying of the
Madonna" 1t is in German throughout,
and is sealed and signed by the King OF |
Saxony and one of his Ministers. The docu-
nent will be an excellent proof of the au-
;henticity of the cory.
The Madonna di San Sisto' was painted
oy Raphael between 1517 and 1920. It is
aid to have been produced as the result of