Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1896-05-25

g Dignifed Spectator Under the Guid-
 ancs of His Satanic Majesty-1e0 Figures
 Shown on the Canvas.
 It isn't every man who would care to stand up and be pictured as entering the internal regions, but that is what Robert G. Ingersoll is going to do very shortly. So much of NIT. Ingersoll's life has been spent in mentally juggling with hell fire that he doesn't mind hay ing himself illustratively injected into the midst of it. even though it be such lurid hell fire as is shown in the paint ing soon to be put on exhibition by G. s. Perhacs, Brooklyn artist. All that is necessary to put the finishing touch to hades is the figure of the noted in- fidel, and he will pose for that purpose within Q short time.
 The idea of painting picture of hell fire struck MT. Perhacs some years ago, while he was travelling through Europe studying art in the various gal leries It seemed to him that the sub ject hadn' t received that attention from painters which it deserved, so he de- cided to embody his ideas of the region in picture of great size Two years ago he began the work of painting 1t, and it is now finished but for the two main figures It represents the mouth of he'll MT. Perhacs didn't care to pene- trate into the interior, because he be- lieved it would be better not to deal to any great extent with the nude, and he reckoned that anywhere farther in than the entrance the temperature would be such as to render clothing not only superfiuous, but also absolutely impractieable.
 As it is, all his figures, of which there are about 120 clearly defined, have been furnished with garments where they do the most good, bar ring few demons who are wreathed in whirls of smoke in manner to satisfy the most fastidious. Hell is represented as vast chasm surrounded by lofty mountains, between the peaks of which can be seen stretches of pale, cool sky in effective contrast to the fiery depths below Over the chasm hover angels armed with bows to drive back such of the damned as attempt to rise above their sphere in the future life, and a body tumbling into the gulf transfixed by an arrow serves as an awful warning to others meditating escape. Perched about on the rocks are demons armed with pitehforks, watching their com panions below at work upon the vic- tims.
 In the foreground are the legions of the damned, without distinction of race, color or previous condition of serv- itude. Various emotions, all of an un- pleasant nature, are yiYidly depicted upon their faces, and there is a very large amount of writhing to the square inch. One of the most striking features is an unfortunate young man being hypnotized by an extremely complex snake, which may or may not be re- garded as @ temperance lesson, accord ing to the personal bias of the spectator A hellhound has new arrival by the chin and is dragging him toward the abyss. One figure with pompadour hair is strongly suggestive of the noted epis- tolary author, MT. James J. Corbett, a resemblance further borne out by his at- titude of shaking his fist at empty space. A large flat rock stands in the most conspicuous position, and it is on this rock that Mir. Ingersoll will stand, accompanied by Mephisto, who plays Virgil to the infdel's Dante. MT. h. gersoll's attitude will be that of a spec tator, which is not the role that many people pick out for him under such cir cumstances. He will have his pick of several emotions to depict--horror pity, distress or incredulity, as if say ing:
 Is this what religious people would have us believer"
 Before taking steps to place Mir. h. gersoll at the mouth of hell Mir. Perhacs took steps to obtain his permission, which proved to be an easy matter. Furthermore, the lecturer consented to pose, even though 1t involved wearing Roman toga The other models who have posed for the picture are as varied in station as those who people the region represented. NIT. Perhacs has painted in his hell society belle and a woman of the street, Cherry hill mug and a typical elubman. The society woman and the clubman posed out of morbid curiosity to see themselves so represent ed, but most of the models had to be paid, and it has cost the artist $5, 900 in models to complete his work. It is val ued at $25, 000
 When completed it will either be ex- hibited around the country or at Man haitian Beach. Austin Corbin is said to be negotiating for it's purchase. e.-New York Sun.
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