The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1889-09-04

HALL.
immortal This was the most difficult task
an artist could attempt-to paint piCi ure
that should he both national and immortal.
Think over all the immortal pictures in the
world, and there are not a dozen that are
distinctly national, after you leave the
classic works of Greece and Rome. To lie
national Il picture must not only depict men
and women painly belonging to a particular
nation, amid scene that belongs to that
nation alone, but also engaged III an action
that cannot be found in any other nation
not an act of history either, which is only
made national by history. Many paintings
are distincIiveiy French, or German, or
Italian, or Spanish, or English, 10y their
style, their figures and costumes, and their
accessories; but they are not national, be-
cause the action they show is not particular
to their country, and might happen else
where. And to be immortal a picture must,
however limited by nationality, appeal to the
admiration OF all other countries.
Konstantn MakoffSki became in short
time man possessed hy
AN ALMOST INSANE MANIA.
He dreamed IF his picture by night; he
wrought at it at all hours; he drew and re-
drew, painted anu EctalnJcCl 11o SIiuC
self up for long months in his studio, refus-
ing admission to everybody except his wife,
and admitting her only when forced by
exhaustion and hunger. As the work grew
he became emaciated, fierce, sullen, almost
mad, consumed by an intense enthusiasm.
Finally, however, the picture was completed
to the satisfaction of his mCrbidly critical
fancy. Then he admitted his wife to the
studio and pointed proudly to this consum-
mate work of his genius. The woman shed
tears of joy, because now she hoped to re-
gain her husbands society. The painter
tainted from prolonged exhaustion.
The picture was sent to the Gar. The
imperial family and the artists called to wit
ness its unveiling were
MORE THAN DELIGHTED
with the great work. But the Gar, am
bilious to have Russian art take the lead in
Europe, sent the picture to the worlds art
exhibition, then open in Antwerp. There
! the splendid Russian picture took the ad-
miration of all Europe by storm. 1t was
| unanimously voted the medaile dhoneur by
the jadges-and this award was confirmed
by the praises of the artists of Europe-as
| the greatest painting of modern art.
Then the painting sold, under the
| rules The Gar expected to bid it in for the
Russian imperial gallery; but an American
Mr.. Charles w Sc!iu:nan, of New York
overbid the Gar, who wanted money Tor his
| armies, and bore off the prlz, at fabulous
price. In New York Mr. Schumun built an
| art gallery expressly for this one picture.
| He would not allow it to be shown elsewhere
| for long time; but at last h yie lei to the
public wish, AMI consented to loan his
| treasure to the Detroit International Exposi-
| tion, to be exhibited in Detroit at
A COST OF 500 PER DAY,
during the time it is on exhibition. Thus
the people will have an OPP portunity to Sc
this great painting 1t will be exhibited in
| the MAJ gnificent Art Building of the Expos-
ton, i'll an nlcove by itself, lit by Ed dison
electric lights, as also will Munkacsy's great
painting of "Tae Last Hours of Mozart" "
owned by Gen. Alger, and H. r. Poores
grand religious painting of ''The Night of
the Nativity" Elsewhere in the building
will be dsir. .but2d the $50 famous paintings
of the American Prize Fund salon. besides
innumerable other works of art in marble,
bronze, silver, etc.
''The Russian Wedding Feast" is a blaze
of gorgeous colors, so blended as to make a
harmonious whole The men and women
are all purely Russian types, and so are the
room and all in it. No description can give
an adequate idea of the grand effect of the
grouping and coioring OF this magnificent
masterpiece of art. 1t must be seen to be
appreciat I'd, and it is appreciated the moment
it is seen. The bride i'll the picture is wonder
fully lovely. Her quaint Russian costume
and peculiar Muscovite features lend an
added piquancy to her beauty, to eyes not
accustomed to the Russian type. The guests
show every variety of Russian characteristic
the Laplander, Tartar, Kossack, etc, and
all classes of society, from the servant and
peasant TO the rich merchant and government
official In short it transports the beholder
to a strange country. AMI the furniture,
silverware, ana all the accessories, deepen
the strange impression. That il is grandly
drawn and painted is matter C course