The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-11
TIE POPE AND HIS ponrRAIE
How Chartrnn Made His Holiness Poss

From the Figaro.
For all honest mon. of no matter what re-
ligion or party. Loo XIII. is one OF tho most
noble and one OF the greatest figures OF the
present time. He has his place among the
most illustrious OF the 254 successors OF Peter.
II there is at the present time an august ply
siognomy well worth Offering to the venera-
ton OF contemporaries and posterity, and be-
fore which believers and unbelievers must all
bow with respect. It is his beyond doubt.
But II this rival OF Leo Y. had not yet found
his Sanzio. 1t was not because In this artistic
renaissance. as fertile us that OF the sixteenth
century. there was no painter worthy OF such
model. There were more than one who had
tho ambition to nail him living upon the cam
vas. Lembach. the great German painter.
had that ambition ut the instiSation OF Bis
marck. for whom he was admitted to make the
portrait OF his Holiness. But whether Leo MIL
had an unpleasant recollection OF that work.
or whether he obeyed the scruples of excessive
modcsty. or whether. considering his years.
ho recoilod before tho fatigues OF pos
ing. he determined not to commence
the experience again. But after all. it is to
one OF our own artists NJ Th6obald Chartran.
that tho honor was reserved OF conauering
this almost inncxible resolution. This honor
he owes more to his title as Fronchman than
to his great and legitimate reputation as o
portrait painter.
For some years past N. Chartran was haunt
ed with the desire to paint the portrait OF his
Holiness. and this desire became stronger
when the Pontiacal policy entered upon lire
80 manifestly in sympathy with our country
No moment could be more opportune He set
out for Rome. Immediately on his arrival in
the Eternal City he requested NJ. Lefebvre dc
Behaine. our Minister at the Vatican. to solicit
for him private audience. without concealing
to Loo XIII. his intention and his hope. lie
had AL, his plan. cunning cum, Plan, ,,,,u,,,
saed h "s very verge next day IL
pointed hour Chartran crossed the threshold
Of tho Pontincal apartments. carrying under
green cloth, HIS Holiness RECEIVED him m with
feneR En- Or af eRa sS hsss
that have made an absolute rule never to
pose for q painter. am old. and my health
will not permit IN effort that must be so often
-" Never mind about that, Holy. Father" said
Only css5ss hs Sas fssSs
Unfolding the green cloth he presented
tlon q surprise 9nd admirati!!oRR.., Why: that
e ho my p9dtr whot said he What resem
the SKETCH which have made from memory,
with the. assistance Of engrnvings and photo:
graphs. in order to spare YOU the horrors q
hepose;, Now won't your Holiness yield Z,
his sketch II the hest possible light before the
am asking you on Bonded knees"
Leo KILL was disarmed. Well" said he,
don't ask mo for moro than half an hour. or
three-Quarter5 at most"
THAT will be sufficient"
When shall We commence 2"
am at your orders: the sooner the better"
Tho next day IN the grand hall Of the. secret
the painter and his august model found them
selves face to face. Half an hour passed. then
an hour. and then two hours without the Pope's
appearing to remember that he himself had
limted the time OF the citing And de-
enchanted as he was by the language
OF his great model. in turns playful or grave.
witty or profound. revealing noble mind
open to all the beautiful and grand things Of
intelligelce and art. and in which were reiter-
which the Holy Father insisted upon calling
the eldest daughter Of the Church." And all
this was given in tone OF paternal familiarity
and In the purest French. spoken with u
meridonal accent that gave to it q piQuant
This setting was followed by FIVE others: and
when the last stroke OF the brush was given. the
Pope did not spare his compliments to the
artist. to whom he finally gayo Q lit 10 caskct
containing his miniature portrait and g Eene-
diction written by his own hand. He then
told the artist to have the picture reproduced
by ono OF the greatest engravers OF France.
and ordered three hundred copies Of it for his
personal use.
The picture Is masterpiece. and it will soon
be exhibited at the salon des Champs Elys6es.
At the bottom there Is this inscription: