San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-01-16
Regarding Cooper's Painting.

In reference to the article in last eve
ning's issue, signed IS" | wish to state
that the person who wrote it evidently
has lost sight Of the main features of the
painting, The Morning OF the Cruel
fixion," in his or her desire to criticize.
In the first place, the picture is intended
to be non-sectarian, so that all denomi
nations can enjoy, not only it's artistic
beauty, but take whatever lessons from a
religious point of view they may see
fit, for 1t is always stated in the
oral description given, that the paint
ing is exhibited as work Of art,
expecting those who view 1t to do so from
a standpoint OF their own. or course all
classes Of people visit 1t. The Catholic,
the Protestant, the Atheist and the Jew.
II would be impossible TO exhibit paint
ing and make the exhibition a success
from financial standpoint il it were an
sectarian picture, and the figure of Mary,
the mother OF Jesus, shown in a fainting
posture, is a license that may be allowed
the artist to show that her grief was
greater than any other present, and this
also is always stated in the descriptive
lecture. IS" should be able to see
that by putting His mother in the back
ground the artists would offer another
''atfront" to Catholics and it would be i'm
possible to have the lines Of composition
correct ii she were in d prominent posi-
ton in the fore ground and were standing
Any artist will agree with me in this |
think. Again, 1T would be impossible to
exhibit picture showing the savior with
the gaping wounds" and covered with
blood and,eXpect people to come and see il,
for while there may be some. such as ''S''
VIII o could look upon 1t without a tremor,
the masses would keep away from 1t, for
II would be Sickening in the extreme. II
the picture was exhibited from a purely
religious standpoint, | will admit it
would be more effectual to show the fig
ure OF Christ as it was accOrdag to his
tory, but then its place should be in a
Cathedral or some place where people go
to worship.
The greatest good to the greatest
number should be the prevail
ing idea, and no one with any
heart in them can sit In
front Of this sublime painting without
being moved by il. ! can refer to clergy
men in this city who have said that they
felt as though they were in His very pres
ence while viewing il, and that the seusa-
tiOn was something they never before felt
when looking at any similar picture. In
other cities sermons have been preached
from 1t, and | have opinions OF several
eminent DivineS who have styled it, The
Sermon in ColorS." THE living aud glow.
ing embodiment of all that has been
written or sung upon the Divinity OF
Christ" AS TO the dusty attire" it
would be impossible to judge of
the picture as now shown, for 1T
was intended for daylight exhibition,
and great many OF the artistic effects
are changed on account Of the strong
electric light necessary to show the pic
ture 10 the dark enclosure. but even il the
the figures were dusty and unkempt, the
so-called critics would probably ;cuSe
the artist OF too Excessive realism
and too much Fidelity to detail" etc,
as the tendencyiS now adays to the
impreSsionist schoolOf art. So you
see it would be impossible to please
all. II "S' would only stop TO
think he would possibly realize that 1t is
far more easy to tear down than to build
up, and by far more easy to pick flaws In
picture than to paint one. IS" should
not be so narrow minded in his or heI
ideas and should remember that this IL
an age of free thought and speech anC
that others may have ideas not in har-
mony with those expressed by him (ol
herr. 1t is only necessary to listen to the
expressions Of the people who visit the
picture to judge OF the effect IT has on the
majority and also note the almost breath.
! less stiffness that pervades the room.
The picture has been exhibited severa
times under the auspices of Catholic
churches and this is the first time any Sc
rious objection has been raised.
L. LINCOLN.