The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-11-11
r. and Mrs. j. H. Aley entertained.
AHL'S FAMOUS PICTURE
Mrs. IEOscoI ne Baldwin Kaufman
Writes EnrerestinqIY Ahnuf IL.

(
On the Shadow of the Cross" is the
theme of a very interesting letter from
Mrs. AIosceline Kaufman, of Maryland, to
her mother, Mrs Neveus Baldwin, Of this
city. In the Shadow Of the Cross" is
the famous unfinished and unexplained
miracle picture painted by Henry Ham
mond ALL Mrs. Kaufman saw st recent
ly in Baltimore. and its seemingly super
natural luminosity made a wonderful i'm
preston upon her mind
In September. 1886. Mr.. Ali, who studied
art in the centers of the old world de-
voting his talents chiefly to genre sub
jects, returned to America and establish
ed a studio in New England. He com
menced by painting portraits and land
scapes. but friends persuaded him 70 turn
his attention 10 religious subjects He
began painting full length figure of
Christ intending the same to be an ideal
portrait of the Christ man. At first he did
not succeed in satisfying his own peace
full kindly type and the canvas stood a.
source Of veXaton to him. One day a
bIecturer on Biblical characters explained
to the artist the appearance Of Christ as
it had been previously revealed to him in
a dream. He did not seem to profit bv
the suggestion for several weeks One
day he conceived the ideal he had sought
after and, sDringing to his feet painted
O wonderful countenance Of Christ Soon
after the Biblical lecturer entered Mr.
Ahrs studio and upon seeing the new
picture. went into rapturos and exclaim-
ed, Vow, YOU have painted Christ as
saw Him in my dream"
The wonders of the picture stfl remain
ed undiscovered until one dark night
when the artist had occasion to enter his
studio without a light He was astound-
ed TO discover that his picture could he
distinctly seen in the dark. and that
Christ appeared to be walking in pale
moonlight while above and behind Him
could be seen cross. His first impress
sion was that the moon had risen and
was shining through an open window
upon the picture and that the cross was
merely shadow. He had not thought
of a cross in connection with the picture
and il began to dawn upon him that a
Wonderful phenomenon had taken place
His own picture was beyond his power to
explain and he was so powerfully inn
pressed WITH what had already been done
that he refused To again touch IT with
the brush and the picture remains un-
finished to this day
Scientists have examined the picture
and acknowledge their inability TO ex-
plain the strange phenomenon OF its won
dersul luminosity In the dark one feels
that the figure Of Christ IS walking as He
DID in Gethsemane in pale moonlight an
effect seemingly beyond the power of
human hand % paint Those who watch
the picture for a moment begin 70 think
that the figure moves and breathes: and
St IS said that many perceive figures In
visible to others. surrounding Tire out
lines Of the Christ squire fl adoring at
uudes
In ordinary light the picture compares
q Ife-sized standing figure IF the Saviour
clad in the homely garb oc the poorer
Gafneeans. with one hand resting across
his breast and the other hanging by His
side Tt IS otherwise different from any
fsneisul portrait OF the Saviour ye,
painted
Mrs. Eaufman has interested her moth
en- very much BY her description OF THE
nher1ue7au.