The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-02-12
100000 PICTURE A sACRILEGEs
1t Is That just bought in Paris by IL
c. Flick, Iron Millionaire.
From the New York Journal.

From the New York Journal.
London, Feb, 5.-Art circles here and in
Paris are excited over the record price
paid by Henry Frick of Pittsburg for Dag
nan Bouveret's sensational picture,
Christ Breaking Bread" which, it is
said, has been sold for 500, OOO The pic
ture, which has recently been finished
is now here, but will be sent to Paris next
week to be exhibited in the Salon, and will
reach New York in August. It is one of
the most remarkable works of the mod
ern French school.
Many people here regard it as sacri-
legious and seandalous. because while
the figures of Christ and his three disci-
pies are eXquisitely painted, with all rev.
erence, yet Dagnar- Bouveret, the artist
in frock coat stands in one corner of
the picture scowling at Christ while his
wife and child, also in modern costumes
kneel beside him,
Dagnan- Bouveret, in the picture, wears
high collar and black coat. while his
hair is dressed a la Capoul and his mus
tache and beard are in the most modern
style of the boulevardier. His watch
chains cuff buttons and other jewelry are
seen. He looks at Christ with a puzzled,
if not suspicious, gaze while the other
men in the picture reverently kneel with
looks of alteration for the Saviour.
Mrs. Dagnan-Bouveret is attired in the
most recent style of the French modesto
Her hair is fashionably dressed. The child
is in FauntlerOy costume. This family
group of the three Dagnan-Bouverets oc-
cupies the right side of the picture, in
the center of which is the figure Of the
Saviour magnificently rendered, with
flowing auburn hair and brilliant radi-
ance behind him. Christ and his disciples
are dressed in orthodox Biblical costume
and are all beautifully executed.
1t is now pointed out that in painting
his picture in this amazing manner Dag
nan-Bouveret has not been even original.
for at the Louvre is the same scene de-
picted by Paul Veronese, who also put
himself and family in contemporary cos
tune in the canvas. For this Veronese
was cited before the holy Office for the
crime OF heresy. The criticism is that
Dagnan-Bouveret, in painting his picture,
has set himself up as a skeptic theologian,
which is corroborated by letter he has
written his agents answering these criti-
cisms, saying:
During one-half of the last and
throughout the whole course of the pres
ent century philosophy and science have
one after the other entered into a strug-
gle against religion. Have scholars and
philosophers succeeded in giving salts
faction to the human soul? 1 don't be-
lieve It. The figure Of Christ remains,
after / 800 years. as effulgent as ever. His
rule of morals is as sublime as ever. To
receive His word woman still kneels down
without discussion her child, without I'M
Outstanding it, kneels also by her side;
but man, after all these troubles, doughts
and denials, can no longer knee as once
he did. His brow is careworn with the
anxiety which has desoiated his heart"
The picture is eight feet by twelve feet
and has never been exceeded in price by a
modern work excepting In the case of the
"Angelus."