The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-03-25

lin. 1t Is in the Greek style with an Ionic
pOrtico. The entrance is adorned with
celebrated works of art in stone and mar
BILE. The interior is we'll arranged for in
telligent study. The gallery of antiquities
gives one an idea of art before and at the
time of Christ. OF course, many "orig-
inar' pieces look like children's toys a
month after Christmas. The hall of the
heroes, in eleven compartments, belongs
to early art. To some people these statues
are full of beauty. To others they are
simply rows upon rows of unnaturally
large people much in need OF cast off
clothing or a sewing society.
The medieval and renaissance sculp-
tors are very fine. Copies whose originals
are found in the Louvre and in Italy
make it possible to see all noted statuary
here.
In the new museum, which is con-
nected with the old, is a collection of
casts arranged in tive I've groups. Next
comes the Babylonian room containing
relics from that ancient civilization. We
will not take your space by translating
the cuneiform inscriptions. AdjoiI ing is
the Assyrian room. Here one can ex-
anime objects of interest found in the
ruins of palaces at Ninevah and other
cities built in the eighth and ninth CEN
turtles before Christ. Perhaps the most
celebrated thing in this city is the
Egyptian mummy. 1t is arranged
by dvnasties, which is a great help in
an Egyptian temple. Here is the altar
and figures of gods and colossal figures of
kings, even Sesostris himself, though you
can't prove it by us just when be reigned.
Anyway they have one worthy here who
lived 1000 B. c., The hall of the tombs
contains real tombs of people buried 2500
b. c., and mummies in every form until
one is tired. There is jewelry ladies wore
in the time Of Moses. Perhaps the lady
who owned these jewels sleeps in that
mummy cloth near. Perhaps that little
child near, who fell asleep 1000 years
ago, played with these rude Egyptian
toys. 1t is curious to see how many
things we call modern inventions were
known almost in perfection then.
1t is with q feeling of relief one comes
back to the present after being long with
the dead past. There is a fine collection
of bronzes, besides 1900 rare vases and
collection of gems. But perhaps everyone
feels most satisfaction with the pictures.
In the rotunda Of the old museum is the
celebrated tapestry from designs by Raph-
ael. The scenes are taken from scripture
and it is hard to realize ii is woven ins
stead of painted. There are some re-
markable mural paintings over which one
could finger for hours.
The picture gallery is arranged in
schools, the early Italian masters coming
first. The Madonna was the favorite crea-
ton in those days. We counted $50 and
then let the rest 20. Some are exquisite,
others horrible. The last judgment, by
Fra Angelica, is perhaps the most noted
of this period. 1t would be treasure TO
an old-fashioned calvanist The good are
marching off to the right, having happy
greetings. kissing friends, etc. At the left
the goats" are going down to a very IN
comfortable place. Snakes are crawling
down the Threats of the wicked, and the
scene is so real one can almost see the
victims writhe. Some are immersed in
cauldrons of fire. Not few shaver heads
are in this place of torment, but the most
horrible thing is the presence of lovely
little babies supposed to have been among
the damned" The devil is in the act of
swallowing a few of these innocents.
Raphel Corriggio and other noted artists
are well represented. The Dutch and
German schools are represented by very
choice selections, and the French as well.
A picture by Murillo attracts great adj
miration. You remember St. Anthony
always longed for the vision of the Infant
Christ, and finally his life was so pure and
holy theangels brought him the baby. Such
is the legend. st. Anthony is devouring
the beautiful baby with kisses, and looks
more like happy father than monk.
'Is this the originalI' we heard some
Americans ask, and it is astonishing how
the canvass CLOVIS with new life when the
catalogue saysthe original copy. There
ought to be an American room. Our Steele
and Cox and others could compete with
many pictures justly famous.
MYRA GOODWIN PLANTZ.