The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-10-08

Ion for the Countess Dubarry. 10 hang ,r
her boudoir, that she might use n as
lever to stir UP the Ire OF the easy-goine
Louis XIV. against his Parliament Tbis
picture. forgotten and unthought OF, was
curiousIy enough the first thing thai me,
the eyes of Louis XVI. when he entered
the Tulleries after the 10th OF August.
The two central panels contain the ..No-
ces de Cana" by Veronese--now entirely
restored on new canvas-flling the whole
hall with the shimmering OF silks and
satins, Illuminating II by the paeeant
OF It's color What long and mind-wear
| Ing labor IL was. the change OF this ocIos-
| sus form one canvas 10 another. First the
! painful rubbing away OF canvas number
one, after the previouh fixation OF brown
| paper over the surface OF the painting it.
SELF When there remained only tangible
coating of the first canvas II was ironed
down and its threads warmly pressed into
the new background behind. Then the
careful. warm washings began 10 remove
the paper until 1t crumbled into pellets OF
waste. yet showing only a part and por-
ton Of the glorious life beneath. Imagine
| the agony, the mental strain. OF the ART
| workers, as each head arm, or hand an
peared, as the PORTRAIT Of the master him
| self-playing the contra basso. and dressed
! In green yellow velvet-came out or the
head OF the Saviour, with the loving ST.
| John leaning near, and even the familiar
figure OF the man pouring the ,wine and
waterfall these projecting slowly from
chaos and possible confusion, IL not dire
dismay.
Opposite hangs Murillo's "yIrpfn" en-
pure. so rapturous. so girl-like. that when
the Immaculate Conception was conse-
Grated as a dogma OF the Roman Church
the world Immediately adopted the paint
ing as its cherished symbol; and now this
picture is more widely known than 'anv
Of its rivals, even more than the presln1-
ed 200 Virgins, attributed to Raphael
Michael Angeles "Pieta" is the accepted
type Of Christ, just as Murillo's "Assump-
ton" IS acknowledged daughter OF st.
Anna, and as Guldo's head in the portrait
OF the Stabat Mater" and his "Ecce Ho-
mo" are the sad delneations OF human
suffering endured with resigned faith.
The four corners complete this sanctum
sanctorum OF the museum. In one we
find the Sleeping Antiope" by Correggio.
whose white, creamy. exquisite flesh tints
and wonderful foreshortening disturbs the
peace OF mind Of all modern artists. In
a second corner is the est Michael" by
Raphael. and the unique Holy Family"
while along the long line hang the Mar
guerite de Navarro" by Clouet, represent
Ing the old French school: two Teniers.
Gerard Dow's Femme Hydropiaue." Ter
burg's Cavalier" Titians Burial OF
Christ" and. one might ask, why is not
that lovely 'Tnfante Margarita" of Velas-
quez. so much out Of place in the Span
ish section, here also?
The metropolis Of the Louvre will be
made more accessible in times 10 come by
the grand staircase, the decoration OF
which, In gold-grounded mosaic, Is aban-
doned In half-finlshed state. owing 10
lack Of funds. The ornamentation will
be right royal II completed as the project
reads. The white marble steps already
await their destination, miserably situated
pro tenn, In the damp cellar below. while
our anxious feet tread their temporary
sisters. One OF the gems OF the world |
however, the flying figure OF Victory" is |
there. and in the scarlet room so dear TO |
artists, lives TO all eternity the Venus |
Nictrix." which was found at Melos-not |
as COOKS tourist once put Il. the Ven |
US or Mr.. Milo" She stands there I'm |
hushed silence, far away from Partisan |
and toll half turned from the glass case
supposed TO contain her missing arms. |
These she scorns. Indifferent 20 the fact |
that generations are still anxiously dis
cussing whether her right hand held a
mirror or a sword
II in the Salon Carrie above we feel ad-
and calm before the wonders of
consecrated high art. here we are at rest
before eternal beauty. the sensation OF
the achieved Our admiration has none
or that combatitiyeness one feels in the
Sale des Etats, for example, where Del
acroiH's color RACES beside Ingres impec-
cable portrait OF Cherubini. with skeleton-
Ike hands. and where Millets master
piece, the "Glanuses," quite kills the moor
items owned by France and signed by
Oorot. These have come too near to -.
The Louvre should not be thrown amen
to an artist, even ten years after his
leath' out only, as In the case OF David's
Sacre, at the exhibition Of 1859. when
Vox populi, vox Del designated the work
as worthy Of the highest honors. To
some this comes before death. The 'JS14"
by Meissonier treasured its masters
ioubts before he closed his eyes I'm final
rest. TO others the wheel OF fortune |
has been kinder still.
Under these presumably sacred vaults
5onnats portrait OF NJ THEIRS suddenly
meets our amazed gaze. 1t is not in the
Louvre, properly speaking. It is very
much out Of place in the Sale THEIRS. |
/ private room where II finds hospitality |
With two big services OF Seyres borce-
ain given 10 the statesman by the State.
md other knickknacks and rubbish. How
the world can two carved reproduc-
Ions OF Michael Angeles might and |
Jay." an imitation parrot in Dresden
hina, fruit services, &C, be tolerated
lere, all in a block, when that unique
objection by Savageot is scattered all
bout. like shining stars in stray cor
ers! By what right can a man, simply
ecause he happens 10 be President Of
he French Republic. be allowed to de-
ecrate the Louvre with a legacy Of
is table china-coming from China, I'M
rtistic and marketable IN value-and
ang his own portrait in the midst Of
is questionable household gods, nclud-
lg some Jewelry belonging TO his wife,
lhile modest Savageot, the second vio-
n OF the Opera whose collection made
y himself, relic by relic. and glorified
y Balzac in cousin Pons," was ndmitt- ,
4 first with indifference and even teluc-
lncei This humble art lover prayed 10
e allowed to occupy a small room In
he Louvre and have the privilege 10
ouch and dust his treasures until death
hould drop the brush from his hnwill-
lg fingers and close his reluctant eye
ds.
What honor could be too great for the
-, "a