The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-03
NIDONSIs BLENDED.
A Strange Composite of the Works of the
More Famous Masters.


After years almost constan, work Mr. Joseph
Gray Kitchell OF this city has succeeded in max.
ing Photographic COMPOSITE Of all the principal
Mad0nnas painted by the worlds greatest masters
during a period Of 900 years wherein the sub
iect reached its highest development careful
study Of the famous beauty types Of the Madonna
subject that has b-en the topic Il supreme effort
By the gifted among mankind for 800 years.
having in view the object TO concentrate or gen.
eraize into As few as possible ,hoec masterpieces
comprehensiyely portraying the different motives
Of the different school exponcnts. suggested to
Mr.. Kitchell the idea Of one grand ensemble
that Is a composite blend Of all these attainments
in ideelism. \ local admirer Of Mr. Kitchells
achievement says.
1t il a comparatively easy task 10 select n
single painting Of the Byzantine regime which
epitomizes the spirit prevalent in the thousands
Of paintings produced during that long period
composite reproduction Of all Of them would
indicate clearly positive type from which none
OF the integras would sufficiently depart TO afford
dderential observation, but in latter years many
paintings Of each school 30 palpably exhibit
the initial influence OF a master hand thntn is
an issue Of critical discrimination TO determine
the particular production. whether by instructor
or student, that b~s, exempnes the peculiari,ies
Of its class At times such IL best seen in the
strong original impulse OF the founder, while
In others in the development therepron,,
A subject that has been the chief theme for
portrayal for 30 many centuries by the worlds
creates. master painters must command univer
Of preservation and development Of Christianity,
nay, even Of civilization, il immeasurable In
tween Tho dark ages and modem s %
From whatever standpoint the subject Is viewed
whether religious historical artistic, II IN tho
one in its very nature that appeals TO all classes
and conditions the learned and the unettercd
are neither superior nor inferior TO It's charms;
on, their very souls and given Of their best in this
~ S.ser .m s.bec, has co%mAn S.
gifted among mankind One need not
To the religious the meaning is supreme: TO others
|. Is the digest and holy once Of motherhood
few words might be Of interest regarding
the process by which the composite was produced
Its attainment is one Of the newest trIumphs in
by, the perfected lenses Of Jena glass. special
oithochromatzed plates and single but in
exposure by which the orbltal, nasal and labial
lines were placed in correct register. The system
adopted was that BY which generally similar
paintings were placed IN a separate class Each
picture in class was photographed successfully
on plate that became the composite, negative
graphed and prints from each negative thus
obtained afforded the material for the final com.
positc negatives, from which the composite Ma
donna il direct print
The result In a marvellous composite and for
q blend Of many faces IL IL remarkably dis
unct, yet II IL strangely mysterious and spirit.
ual 1t is a face different from any ever seen -
dificut TO describe or analyzc: a face of unmis.
taxable youth-a sweet pure Rrlish cOuntenance
Mary the virgin. Ono mavels 10 compare IL
with any Of the separate units that compose it,
while in It's marvellous beauty IL exceeds any Of
the individual subjects composing IT,
The composite Madonna will be exhibited in
the window at 1925 North Pennsylvania street,
properly lighted. IL Is q heavy black carbon
deposit on a plate OF pure silver After one weeks
exhibition here II win be- sent 10 New York. where
subsequent prints will be controlled by the Masters
and Students League The first copy has
been ordered for permanent exhibition in the
hall OF the Congressional Library.