The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-05-28
OUT AND ABOUT.

The very remarkable picture by Dag
nan-Bouveret of Jesus at Emmaus,
which has been at the Art museum
since May 1, will be taken away on
Thursday, so that two free days re-
main on which to view this MASTER
piece. The museum will be open to the
public free today from to 6 p. M,
and Tuesday, from 10 to - a. M, and
from l to 6 p. m. While it
is impossible to describe the paint
Ing to one who has not seen it in terms
that shall make it ineligible, it must
be said that no one should fail to see
it while it is here.
Not only because of it's technical
mastery and originality is Dagnan-
Bouveret's work of absorbing interest.
Its deep, pervading piety and mysii-
cism lend it a religious quality which
proves appealing to the free thinker
quite as much as to the believer There
is something startling, challenging
about it that will not let the beholder
be indifferent-he must either accept or
reject 1t, either love or hate it.
The scene is taken from Luke's gos-
pei, the oath verse: "And behold two
of them went that same day to VI
lage called Emmaus. which was from
Jerusalem about three score furlongs.
"And they talked together of all those
things which had happened, and it
came to pass that while they COM
muned together, and reasoned, Jesus
himself drew near, and went with
them.
But their eyes were holden, that
they should not know him. - And
they drew nigh unto the village,
whittier they went, and he made as
though he would have gone farther.
But they constrained him, saying,
Abide with us, for it is toward eve
ming, and the day is far spent; and
he went in to tarry with them.
"And it came to pass, as he sat at
meat with them, he took bread, and
blessed it, and brake, and
gave to them.
And their eyes were opened, and
they knew him, and he vanished out
of their sight"
The moment arrested on the canvas
is that of the last verse just quoted. Our
Lord is seated at a table covered with
a white cloth, and on his either hand
are the two disciples with whom he had
walked. A woman who is bringing food
for the meal stands on the left of the
table. and on the right of the table. be-
nina the NISGABltF lllC PALMER has DldtGu
himself his wife and little boy In
the background, beyond the figure of
the Savior, is sweet green field,
through which runs a stream, with
mountains against the horizon
The Christ is the central figure, upon
whom all eyes are fixed. His whole
person is radiated with a mysterious
light which is reflected on the faces of
the group. Great majesty and sweet
Co.
fling, indefinable, rapt expression
The eyes are very remarkable: so are
those Of the woman with the dish in
her hands. 1t Is the instant when
their eyes were opened, and they knew
him, and he vanished out of their
sight" Upon the faces of the disci-
pies is the most tense surprise, the most
joyous alteration, but the woman is
simply transfixed at the vision. The
three people on the other side look, too:
the man interested. but unconvineed:
the woman, with reverent reflection:
the child, with reverence, but with no
comprehension of the mystery
While the other figures are solidly
painted, of flesh and blood, the figure
of Jesus is painted with great spiritu-
ality and delicacy. 1t is the moment
of vision, when by a flash the divine
mystery is made manifest to the eyes
thdl DeLpIt we're HOiuen an instant
more, and He will have vanished out
of their sight"
Much may be said by way OF inter-
probation of this wonderful picture, but
each must make his own Interpretation.
Once seen, the great power and sweet
ness and personality and mystery of it
can never be forgotten.
They have not got all the good
things Of life in Boston. Worcester has
some Of them. When Col. Lcring Of the
Boston Museum Of Fine Arts visited
the Worcester Art museum he was
greatly impressed with the beautiful
light that was obtained for the pic
lures and was anxious to know how It
was obtained. The lighting Of the pic
ture galleries at the Worcester Art
museum Is magnificent. but the process