The Marietta journal. [volume] (Marietta, Ga.) 1866-1909, 1897-08-19
DA vlMCYs JUDAS. d
The True Story of tho Revsnge 81 d Gels
A go M h~ss44sg Artist u ss 4

The True story of the Revspge 81 ~ Gels /
byatsa, Artist.
Leonardo Da yineLmlasa genius at !
unusual versatility He was not |
only preseminent as an artist, but
was alsoore Of ire most learned and |
accomplish "a men OF. the fifteenth
century His varied talents COM 4
bined with his great physical beau
t., caused him TO be- renowned
throughout Italy,.
Yet all these remarkable gifts
Were married by a quick, imperious
temper and anintolerance of rebuke
or opposition. Though a devopt
Catholic, such was his want of self
control that he did not hesitate to
retaliate, even when his opponent
was dignitary of the church,
His celebrated picture "The Last
Supper" was painted for the refec-
tory of the Convent of the Domini,
can Fathers of Milan. The monks
took the greatest pleasure in watch-8
ing the progress of the painting
They all had the highest esteem for
the man, as well ASIAN unbounded|
admiration for his art, and they FREE
quentlypassed their criticisms upon.
the picture. This they had may
opportunities of doing, as it was b911
ing painted i'll their convent. "a
Qa Vinci meditated long and
foundly upon the subject of bill
ture, frequenting the haunts on
whose type he needed and caref}
studying faces and attitudes.
always carried his tablets with
and in these he made sketeh
heads and groupswhich he Gid
suited his purpose. In this wa
repeated attempts, he at last but
ceeded in perfecting his studies fo|
all the disciples but Judas, but 4
him no prototype could be found.
He visited the Borghetta, where
the lowest class of criminals scon-
cealed themselves. For whole
yepr, day and night, he pursued his
search, but was unable to find face
that expressed all the evil that he
wished to portray.
AS the picture was being painted
In the dining hall of the convent, a
part of monastic discipline which
was carried on in that room was
necessarily interrupted. The prior
OF the convent, at last becoming i'm
patient at what seemed to him un-
warrantable delay, expostulated
with Da Vinci; but, receiving no
satisfactory reply, he complained to
the grand duke, who at once asked
the artist for an explanation.
Da Vinci, though inwardly raging
with Indignation, answered the duke
with all due courtesy, telling him
that the holy father was mistaken
in supposing that he was willfully
neglecting his painting, for, on the
contrary, he worked at his picture
several hours every day. The duke
was fully satisfied, repeating to the
prior what Da Vinci had told him.
But the prior, who was ignorant
of the artists outside work in con-
nection with his painting, was
shocked at what seemed to him ut
ter falsehood, and he renewed his
complaints with still greater ear
nestness, so that the unfortunate
artist was again summoned before
the grand duke to answer for him.
self, the prior thus representing the
matter:
your grace" said he, IDA Vinci
has not been near the convent for
nearly IL months, so how can his
story of working every day be truce
And as he has but one head to finish
it seems to me that he is trifiing
with us and presuming too much
upon our patience.
''What the holy father says is
true, your grace" said the artist,
with much asperity, so far as my
absence from the convent is con-
cerned, but what l have told you
with regard to my work is also
strictly true, for l have been en-
gagged for at least two hours every
day upon the studies and sketches
that l need. AS to the one head I'M
finished, that of Judas, have been
unable until now to find face with
the expression that 1 am in search
of, but think the face of the prior,
as he now looks, will suit my pur-
pose admirably, though it may be
that l am taking a liberty with the
holy father "
This liberty Da Vinci did actually
take with the pious head Of the
monastery, introducing his features
so that they might be readily recog-
nized, Notwithstanding the villain
Gus expression that he had given to
the face.-Philadelphia Times.
Sawed OFF.