The Washington times., 1895-03-31

rest or the world. If they confessed frankly
that they have no vivid fixed image of
the physical features of the Redeefner RS
face. Yet there are some who see Him
as they see the face of one of themselves
not long ago departed.
EACH HAS HIS CHRIST.
How the Savior looked must generally
be matter of individual impression. both
in. the ordinary and artistic sense. It
is, perhaps. safe to say that, notwithstand
ing the concentration OF thought upon one
subject in all generations after the death
of Christ, alike by those who believe and
who do not believe in q personal God
there has been no accepted standard of
likeness.
Each one makes his Savior for himself.
The majesty and sublimity of the subject
from the devotional standpoint have led
nearly all thinkers to make Christ the
ideal man Intellectually aud physically
The difference in the assumed details
makes the interest in this discussion.
On Monday The Times published the
letter OF Publius Lentulus, contem-
Iorary of Christ, in which he described
the Savior as man surprising the chill
dren of men in beauty, with gray eyes,
filbert coiored hair and beard hair parted
in the middle and flowing over his shoul-
ders, perfect features in the NaZarite fash
ion, and rosy cheeks. Whether the letter
be spuriousor genuine is not to the point.
In whatever age it was written, it is
somebody's idea, and abe0utiful one, OF
the Saviour sface and form.
washington artists were asked by The
Times TO sit in symposium and give their
individual impre ssions, and their COM
biued and related views make an inter
o1.o ;n1I1 ariuf "
the philosophy of the child i'll La Fayette
square.
Art is inclined to follow the couven-
tions ce its youth in regard to the pic
;oriaI representations of Christ. Else it
could not sell its products.
The independent opinions of artists are,
however, entirely different.
They were all found busily engaged,
and could speak only offhapd, which
gives an additional interest 10 their ut
terances.
Herman K. Viele pointed to a classic
face in marble on his mantle and said:
"My impression is there. 1t is that of
the face of a young Caesar with thick
hair, parted evenly in the middle, and
! falling on each side. l would not have
it come down to the shoulders as it is
obliged to consider a beard but my idea
| is that he was not a bearded man. He
had a classic face with a strong psychic
cast. His eyes were deep gray, although
we often see them painted brown.
THE QUESTION OF HAIR.
s. j. Dunbar: "I have never seen por-
trait or sculpture that filled my concep-
tion of the lineaments of Christ Nothing
| las yet conveyed to me the combination
| of strength, goodness, kindness, and Sc
verify of the man. My idea of the face
would be that of VIII Ordway Partridge.
Long, flowing hair conveys the idea Of
| effeminacy, yet l should give the face q
/ beard as an idea of manly strength. ii
! Christ wore his hair untrimmed, then it
ought to he of much greater length than
| it has ever been painted. l would in
cline to the belief that he kept it trimmed
! and down only to the shoulders. As tC
| the color of the hair and beard, it should be
a deep, flaxen brown, rich in tone, full
| moustache with open spaces at the sides
! of the lowerlip, and eyes OF deep blue.
| This artist believes that as Christ was
| infinitely superior in all respects to 8
/ Judean he shonld not be represented with
the physical and psychic characteristics
i of that race, but as an ideal man.
Mr.. K. Brooke: II have no conception
| Of the face beyond the conventions of art.
The Byzantine school gave US the ideal
| face, and it has been generally followed,
and 1 would be inclined to adopt their
suggestion. The difficulty of getting O
| conception is enhanced by the great va
fiety of the human face, and Christ g