Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-09
A MASTERPIECE OF ART.
THE COHEN co. WILL PROVIDE a
TREAT FOR PATRONS.
The Famous Picture, "Morning OI
the Cruci1xion," TO lie Placed
ON Exhibition Here,

Again the Cohen Company comes for
ward with a proposition to entertain the
| public, this time with one of the master
pieces Of art the realistic and sublime
painting entitled 1.-The Morning OF the
| Cruciflxon." by Ashley d. NJ. Cooper.
This wonderful work OF art will be on
free exhibition at the big store for a
| short period, beginning Monday. July
! 10th. 1t Is valued at SIS, OO0 and is 10 feet
| high by IL feet wide. 1t presents to view
| tTenty-six figures and faces. The CEN
trail figure is Christ. life-size. the charac-
ters in the foreground being OF heroic
| size. 1t is a creation which holds all
spectators spell-bound, and is an nspira-
ton TO the scholar. student, theologian,
! or religionist
The artist has endeavOred to realize the
| most perfect conception of the ideal
Christ, and in the features Of the Saviour
are marvellously drawn a blended look OF
pity. tenderness. and resignation. The
desire of MIR. Cooper TO paint portrayal
OF Christ must have been Unborn, for he
made his first drawing when a mere
| child-l0 years of age Since that time he
has made many attempts, but never be-
fore succeeded in getting anything that
came up to his expectations so all his
former drawings he destroyed. Mr.. Coop
er has naturally been n close student OF
the life and characteristics of the Sa-
viour and has read everything in his
tory that would tend to describe Him per-
sonally. Most Of the older masters have
portrayed Christ with a more or less
eheminate appearance, for one artist
seemed TO copy another in this partcu-
lar. Mr. Cooper however, has departed
from the almost stereotyped ideals, ana
has given US face Of stronger charac-
teristics. and at the same time has shown
wonderful blending OF pity, love, kind
ness. and mercy.
The Morning of the Crucifixion" rep
resenting the arrival on Calvary just be-
fore the crucifixion, would, Of course,
show a very different expression than In
any former portrayal, for this would
naturally be the supreme moment I'm His
life--just before delivering Himself into
the hands of His executioners, and lie
is doing so with majesty. His hands are
outstretched as if to show that He is re-
signed, and as one looks at the Divine
figure and is carried away with magma
| ton you can almost hear Him say:
Father. forgive them, for they know not
what thev do"
OF course. the figure of Christ is the
grand central attraction of the picture,
| but the score or more OF other figures
/ who surround Him afford no less an op-
/ portunity for study and reflection 'he
/ sorrowful women on the right. whose
I beautiful faces are tear-stained with cX-
! pressions Of sympathy and horror. from
| a marked contrast TO the brutality ana
| intensity of hatred depicted on the faces
! Of the soldiers who are =" eager Ia
cruelty Him. The co!oring Is superb, anc
the tout-ensemble presents a scene never
to be forgotten. The painting beggars
adequate description, either by tongue OF
pen. 1t must be seen TO lie appreciated
Probably the briefest and best descrip-
ton Of the picture ever attempted was
that Of Rev. DR.. Gilbert OF Cleveland
O. He said: at is a sermon in colors'
1.-The Morning OF the CruclhXlon" VIII
be found throughout the week, commenc'
ing Monday morning. on the second floor
of the Cohen Company store. The pubh'
invited end cordially welcomed.