The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-11
THE HOWARD LITERARY.
HAMLET IN A NEW LINE.
He Describes The Painting OF "Cariss BE-
fore Plate"

am not an exception TO the rule / will en-
deavor to say something about pictures
and OF their benefit 10 the Christian world.
There are pictures, some OF them, sacred
and more descriptive than ever were writ
ten by man. Why is it there are not
more of them to be seen in our churches
and places of learning? The first great
painting l shall mention is "Christ Before
Plate" painted by Michael Munkacsy,
and was purchased by Mr.. John Wanna
maker for 100000. In this wonderful
painting the court room of the Tower OF
Antonio is shown, with its ponderous
column and massive arches. sculptured
beyond description; with its dull red, and
wonderfully woven Syrian carpet. receding
in aerial perspective until it assumes
purpeish hue To the right and IN the
foreground is a rostrum, Wherein is the
judgment seat OF PLATE. Rcbed in flow
ing garments OF white, with head bare and
closely cut hair, guilty and downcast look,
and with folded arms, sits the awful
Judge that gave into the hands of
the mob our savior Jesus Christ
who had come to save the world. To the
benches the high priests and the sanhed-
rim in robes OF purple and gold. On the
first step leading up TO the judgment seat
and in front of Plate stands an old man
in the attitude OF accusation. His long
white beard falls far down on his scarlet
robes, his right hand is pointed at Christ
and ne seems 10 be saying to PLATE: III
thou let this man 90, thou art not Caesars
friend; whatsoever maketh himself king
speaketh against Ceasar."
In the center OF the picture and in
the foreground stands the accused
Christ, ROBBED in white. His gar
Inent falls in loose folds from His eirdle to
his feet. His hands are crossed in front
of Him and bound. His hair, long and
slightly waved and of auburn tint, fails far
down over his shoulde s. His eyes are
dark blue-full of pity and SORROW.
Calm and resigned, He stands waiting
Hike a lamb TO be led to the slaughter. In
the immediate foreground and little to
the LETT OF Christ, with long, murderous
spear. suspended horizontally in front OF
him, stands a Roman soldier, with ap-
parently ali the authority and dignity al
lowed to Roman soldiers at that date
ready 10 thrust his awful weapon through
Christ at the slightest attempt TO escape
or a sign ficant look from Plate. Behind
Christ and filing all the space in the
courtroom is seen the mOb-the scum of
Jerusalem-pusning, crowding and clam
oring with each other for position 10 see
the king of the Jews.
Standing Immediately behind Christ is
young man, perhaps a Jew, with both
arms extended over his head, shouting
with all his might. and as We look at him
we can almost hear the words Cruelty
HIM" ring through the tower and
L - f,I J. i II
crowded street without. Even though
ChTists enemies were numerous and held
sway, He had friends among that noisy
thrOng.
Away back among the group. and
standing on something, perhaps bench,
which elevates her shoulders above the
common level of heads, is a woman hold
ing a child.
We can almost see the tears glistening
In her eyes as her whole heart goes out to
Him in sympathy who is being so I'm.
justly condemned. We know the result of
that mock trial; and still l almost pity
Plate for his weakness. | do not believe
that he really wished Christ TO be cruel
fed, for be said unto the chief priests:
"Ye nave brought this man unto me; and
behold | having examined him before YOU
have found no fault in this man, touch
ing those things whereof We accuse him."
81 will therefore chastise him and re-
lease him." But not so; Piate, like some
OF Us nowadays yields to the public sem
ment against his own will and the result
was our Savior was put to a horrible and
unjust death.
Dear II. L. @. brothers and sisters can
we look at such a picture without sym
pathiZlng with Christ. We almost realize
that we are standing in the tower of An
tOnia during the trial. and see Him as he
stands waiting for the Judgment, SEEM
ingly without friend on earth and stand
ing thus, burning desire comes to us TO
offer unto Him our help.
The great masters have failed TO follow
after Christ, as He bore the cross foot-sore
and bleeding, spit upon and Knocked from
the tower Of Antonio TO Calvary. Per-
haps the scene Was too awfully inhuman
70 be given place among the sacred
paintings. But not mOreso than the
mailing OF Christ hands and feet to the
cross.
What a sickning sight it must have
been to see those large and jagged spikes
driven through his palms and already
bleeding feet, and when the cross was
lifted up to be planted, 10 see His body
drop heavily downward, tearing great
holes in His hands. After death, Christ's
body was taken down By Nico-
GENUS Joseph OF Arlmathea, John
and two other men whose names are un-
known to me.) The mother of Christ,
Mary, the wife OF Cleophas, and Mary
Magd3lene we're there also, as represented
by Peter Paul Rubens in his great master
painting, ''The Descent from the Cross"
and which is now 10 be seen in the Cathe-
dral Of Amsterdam, Holland. In the
picture we see Christ after the nails have
been withdrawn from His feet and
hands, partially covered with a white
linen sheet, one end of which is thrown
over the right arm of the cross and the
other is held by Nicademus as he stands
halt way up a ladder on the left side Of
the cross and under its arm.
Nicademus was Pharisee and a ruler
of the jews and is therefore a very con-
spicuous figure in the painting as well as
in the bible. In the bible he looks as
though re was fifty years old. He wears
very long and fine beard and his gar
ments OF purple and scarlet cover him all
but his face and hands Christs eyes and
mouth ar partly open as We often see
them when persons have Just ceased their
last death struggle. His head hangs down
on His right shoulder, and His hair lies
promiscuously around over his neck and
shoulders.