The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1897-03-12

bel Air seldom has grea. things done in he
midst Talent Of unusual order natural!
seeks other fields. Like the people of old IL
Bethlehem, something has taken place in on
midst that is really great, and We have practi
cally been unconscious of it. Few people
| know that great artist dwells in our town
who has painted a noble work that will live
on through the years to enrich and ennoblt
| humanity. Thirty-five years ago, the idea in
its completeness came to Mr.. Oertel and to-
day, sees it for the first time on canvas.
The work is the first Of a series Of four pic
lures. The titles of the four are:
/. ''The DispensatIOn of Promise and the
Law"
y. "rhe Redeemer"
3. "The Era of the Holy Spirit"
T. "The Contamination of Red emption.'
The series is designed TO delneate the out
lines of that great scheme of redemption which
God has been carrying on since the Fall, and
which is finally to be completed. The first of the
series, "The Dispensation OF Promise and the
Law has, after its growth of thirty five
years in noble and rich soul, found at last
an expression. One can hardly attempt de-
scripton of it. To even think of represent
ing SO vast conception in figures and color
is enough to bewilder one. From Moses on
ward the prophets are depicted in full figures,
Ieaiah, Daniel and Ezekiel being, perhaps,
the finest, but every face and figure shows
TINT it came from a soul thoroughly and
heartily in sympathy with the words of the
great Israelitish prophets. Only one who has
studied and absorbed them, who has really
lived with them can really depict them as Mr..
Oertel has has done. The course of Sill with
its consequences is shown in its awful horror,
eliminating in the captivity of Israel. The
ceremonial worship, the SHADOW of things to
come" pointing EDWARDS towards Christ as
does prophecy, is depicted with tineness of in
sight that can come only from soul stepped
in their inner aud beautiful meaning.
Over all the picture is shed the light from
the Shekinah and the greatness OF the picture
is seen at glance in the magnificent massing
OF color as well as the grouping of figures.
The real greatness strikes one as beng in the
delineation of character in each separate
1uCIC LhuSb Oc IuItSi II bOG w CT q
hundred of these figures, and they not only
represent men but contain, each one, the ar
lists conception of his character as shown in
his writings or work. You can almost hear
the eloquent Isaiah in burst of prophecy as he
stands by the godly young Daniel foretelling
the time Of the Messiah's appearance. The
sad countenace of Jeremiah shows how
!, ,f
And one might go on with all the figures.
There have been large pictures painted in
this country before, that is, pictures that
cover great deal of canvas, but never before
has conception so vast found its expression
among American artists. The breadth OF
mind, depth of soul and artisticability has
never been combined on American soil before
Mr. Oertel gave expression to this one dream
and work of his life. A young man could
never do it. 1t required breadth of vision,
a richness of soul, that could only come with
advancing years.
That MIR. Oertel for these long years has
cherished the grand work in his heart until
the fulness OF its time had come, is only an
other evidence of the divineness of art. That
the magnificent addition to the art of the
world and the riches of mankind has been al
lowed TO be almost wholly unappreciated in
Bel Air is only another evidence of our blind
ness TO the true and beautiful.
The picture has been taken to Washington
for exhibition, and from there goes to Nash
vile, Tenn. Would that we had a patron Of
art among us who realized the greatness OF
this work and what it would mean to the COM
ing generations in our midst We have too
few things in Bel Air that are really beautiful
and great, that we may show to our children
to help them to a conception of the beauty Of
God and nature, and the greatness of mems
souls. May MIR. Oertel live to finish the series,
AID may they all he as great as this one.