New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-02-20
PROFESSOR CORNING'S FIRST LECTURE.
THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD IN THE ART OF

THE MANIFESTATION OF GOD IN THE ART OF
THE AGES DESCRIBED AND ILLUSTRATED.
A course Of lectures of more than usual interest
and having special appropriateness TO the Lenten
season was begun yesterday afternoon in Hard
man Hall, Ffth-ave. and Nneteenth-st, by Pro-
fessor Leonard Corning. The course comprises flvs
illustrated lectures. be delivered on Monday after
Moons and Is entitled: Art Studies in Comparative
Religion The first lecture dealt with "Theophany
or the Manifestation Of God in the Art Of the Ages
Ii was listened to by an intelligent and attentive
audience. which, naturally enough, included many
more women than men. Among those present were
Dorrnan b. Eaton. the Rev. DR. James T. Bixby
the Rev. u. c. Morehouse and the Rev Russell y.
Bellows Mr.. Fellows presented the lecturer re
ferrng to the interesting lectures given by Professor
Corning in this city several years ago. and making
a humorous all lsior t. the OF getting the
Clergy of the city 10 act IL unity on any matter eX
cept religion. Professor Corning is an elderly man.
with a rich full voice and an interesting manner
He has spent some four years searching in the
museums and libraries of Europe for the materials
for this course of lectures. Yesterdays lecture was
Illustrated by more than forty fine lantern sldes
which illustrated 1t in the truest sense.
Mr. Cornings purpose in this lecture was 10 show
the tendency among all nations and peoples to repre-
sent their divintles In pictured or scalptured form
ard to show how Christian art has borrowed much
OF its symbolism Tom so-called pagan art. Ills
frst illustration was OK Peruvian representation
Included gods of India Greece. Egypt Rome
Assyria. Persia Scandinavia, etc. besides several
reproductions OF Christian art The Greek gods
Boreas and Zephyr were among those shown and
In connection with them there were thrown on the
screen two pictures Of the Christian era represent
ing the casting overheard of Jonah. In which the
Divine wrath symboZed by small figure in
the air evidently intended TO represent the wind or
the storm. The evolution OF the idea Of depicting
God in Christian art was interestingly developed
At first only q hand projecting from the clouds was
seen: then "A little OF the was given. then ray
and arrows extending from the hand appeared;
later a half figure. and at length the full-lencth
figure were depicted. The oldest thing discovered
by the lecturer was a huge hand Of God hanging
Straight down from mass OF clouds. the fingers
were haf-closed, AMI within them several
figures representing the elect safely gathered in
the hollow Of the Fathers hand. Another singular
ana suggestive picture represented the baptism Of
Christ. who was standing in the River Jordan white
water was being poured on his head 4 singular
figure appeared part Of the river Itself I'M
doubtediy corresponding the river gods OF Greece
ard Egypt. and that there might he no rnis,akc
about 4 the artist had Labelled this figure as the
river Jordan.
Professor Corning roun1ly arp.auded II the
close Of the lecture The next lecture. on Demon
o!ogy In Pagan and ChT!stian Art" with thirty