The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-11-26
A COMPOSITE MADONNA
JOSEPH GRAY KITCHELL.s ACHIEVE
MENT " MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY.
The Picture viii Be ON View Here for
New YorL-A Description.

After a years almost constant work Mr..
Joseph Gray KitcheIl. of this city, has sue
ceeded in making a Photographic composite
Of ali OF the principal Madonnas painted by
the worlds greatest masters during a period
OF three hundred years, wherein the subject
reached its highest development. A careful
study OF the famous beauty types Of the
Madonna, a subject that has been the topic
OF supreme effort by the gifted among man.
kind for fifteen hundred years, having in
view the object TO concentrate or generalize
into as few as possible those masterpieces.
comprehensively portraying the different
motives Of the different school opponents,
suggested to Mr.. Kitchell the idea of one
grand ensenlble-that is. a composite blend
OF ali these attachments in idealism. A
local admirer Of Mr.. Kitchell's achievement
says:
1T is a comparatively easy task to select
a single painting of the Byzantine regime
which epitomiZes the spirit prevalent in the
thousands of paintings produced during that
long period. a composite reproduction OF
all of them would indicate clearly a positive
type from which none of the integrals would
sufficiently depart 10 afford differential OBJ
servation, but in latter years many paint
ings of each school so palpably exhibit the
initial influence Oh a master ndnO that II Il
an issue of critical discrimination to deter
mine the particular production, whether by
instructor or student, that best exemplifes
the peculiaritieS OF its class. AT times such
is best seen in the strong original impulse
OF the founder, whilst in others in the deVeI-
opment thereUpon
"A subject that has been the chief theme
for portrayal for so many centuries by the
worlds greatest master painters must COM
mand universal respect. Its Importance as
the chief means of preservation and devel-
opment Of Christianity, nay, even of ~civiliza-
ton, is immeaSurable. In art ii is the oridge
that spanned the chaos between the dark
ages and modern enlightenment. From
whatever standpoint the subject is viewed,
whether religious, historical or artistic, ii Is
the one In its very nature that appeals TO
all classes and conditions; the learned and
the unlettered are neither superior nor inte-
rior to its charms, and disciples of all the
divisions of art have poured out their very
souls and given of their best in this supreme
study of perfect womanhood. No other sub
1ect has ever commanded the same amount
Of effort by the gifted among mankind One
need not be a Christian TO respect and re-
we're the ideal Interpretation of so lofty and
beautiful a motive. To the retgious the
meaning is supreme; to others it is the di-
gest and holy office Of motherhood in its
highest exaltment."
MODERN PHOTOGRAPHY.
A few words might be of interest regard
ing the process by which the composite was
produced. It's attainment is one of the new
est lTluInpDS III mOueIu pHOlOSIdpuy, dHu
was made possible by the perfected lenses
OF jena glass, special orthochromatized
plates and a simple but ingenious appliance
for correct juxtaposition in exposure by
which the orbital, nasal and labial lines
were placed in correct register. The system
adopted was tina by which generally similar
paintings were placed in a separate class.
Each picture in a class was photographed
successfully on a plate that became the
composite negative of its class. Each class
was similarly photographed, and prints from
each negative thus obtained afforded the
material for the final composite negatives,
from which the 'Kitchell Composite Ma
donna is a direct print.
The result is a marvellous composite. and
for a blend of so many faces IL is remark
ably distinct, yet 1t Is strangely mysterious
and spirituel. 1t is a face different from
any ever seen-difficult TO describe or ana
lyze: q face OF unmistakable youth-a sweet.
One marvels TO compare II with any or the
separate units that compose il, while in its
marvellous beauty II exceeds any OF the In
dividual subjects composing 1t.
The composite Madonna will be exhibited
in the window at 1126 North Pennsylvania
street, properly lighted IT is a heavy black
carbon deposit on a plate OF pure silver.
After one weeks exhibition here it will be
sent to New York. where subsequent prints
Will be controlled by the Masters and Stu
dents League.
The first copy has been ordered for per-
manent exhibition in the hall Of the Con-
gresSional Library at Washington.
AS an accomplishment demonstrating
what is possible in the scientific photoS-
raphy of to-day this composite Is a signal
index and reflects the greatest credit upon
its originator.