The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-07-07
PAINTED OUT.
fFrom the Chicago News

account of the StrangeSt and easiest
commission ever had. My chief hobby
is old-fashfoned frames I don't care
what is inside of them, my fancy being
to get a frame and later paint pic
ture which shall seem to me suitable
for such a setting.
before Christmas. I picked UP a fine but
dilapidated specimen of wood carving
in a shop on Sixth avenue. The gliding
had been worn nearly away and three
of the corners broken off; yet, as there
was one of the corners still left, I hoped
to be able to repair the others from it.
As for the canvas inside the frame, it
was so srnothered with dirt and time
stains that I could only distinguish it
had been a very badly painted likeness
of some sort, of some commonplace per-
son, daubed in by poor pot-boiling
painter to fill the secondhand frame
which his patron may have picked up
cheaply as I had done after him; but,
as the frame was all right, took the
spoiled canvas along with it, thinking
it might come in handy.
When / arrived at my studio a gem
tleman was awaiting me. I put the old
frame against the wall and inquired his
wishes.
Il want portrait painted he said,
simply.
Your own, sir?"
NO. he answered, hesitatingly; chat
of a person who died several years ago"
Such commissions are not altogether
uncommon, and, though they are sell
dom satisfactory, either to the artist or
the client, they are profitable. So I
asked my visitor what he had in the
way of photographs that could give
my work by.
Il have a miniature on ivory" he
said; sit is a good likeness. and the coll
oring is exact. If you could enlarge
/ told him to show me the miniature.
He hadn't it with him, but said he would
bring it next day and departed. OF
course the matter dropped out of my
mind in a short time. / was very busy
until well into the evening, when I
CHANGED to look at my recent purchase.
The light fell on it in such way that
my attention was attracted by a slight
marking that seemed to indicate that
the canvas had been used more than
once. The original picture had been
painted out to make room for this
coarse daub
With some curiosity I set to work
with water and soap to clean the thing.
This process brought out the vile draw
ing of the upper portrait in ugly clear
ness. 1t was the bloated, piggiSh viSage
of a politician clearly, with a plentiful
supply of jewelry displayed, as is usual
with such masterpieces, where the feat
ures are not considered of so much i'm
portance as a strict fidelity in the de-
plotting of such articles as watchguard
and seals, finger rings and breastpins;
these were all there, as natural and
hard as reality.
Having got the dirt off, had recourse
to spirits of wine and turpentine, with
which, and a plentiful supply of rags,
I began to de1nolish the politician ruth
lessly in the vague hope that I might
find something worth looking at under
meath.
A slow process that was, as we'll as
a delicate one, so that it was close upon
midnight before the gold cable rings
and vermillion visage disappeared and
another picture doomed up before me.
Then, giving it the final wash over
Wi dry a nd a
on my easel while I filled and lit my
pipe, and then sat down to look at it.
What had I liberated from that vile
prison of crude paint? / did not re-
quire to set it up to know that this
bungler of the brush had covered and
defiled a work as far beyond his COM
prehension as the clouds are from the
caterpillar
The bust and head of a young woman
of uncertain age, merged within gloom
of rich accessories, painted as only
master hand can paint who is above as
sorting his knowledge, and who has
learned to cover his technique. 1t was
as perfect and natural in it's Sombre
yet quiet dignity as if it had come from
the brush of Moroni.
A face and neck perfectly colOrless In
their pallid whiteness, with the shadows
so artfully managed that they could not
be seen, and for this quality would have
delighted the strong minded Queen
Bess.
At first as I looked saw in the CEN
ter of a vague darkness a dim patch
of gray gloom that drifted into the
shadow. Then the grayness appeared
to grow lighter as I sat from it and
leaned back in my chair until the feat
dres stole out softly and became clear
and definite, while the figure stood out
from the background as if tangible, al
though, having washed it, L knew that
it had been smoothly painted.
An intent face, with delicate nose.
well-shaped. although bloodless; lips
and eyes like dark caverns without
spark of light in them The hair loosely
textured, jet black and lusterless, which
hid the upper portion of the brow, with
the ears, and fell in straight, indefinite
waves over the left breast, leaving the
right portion of the transparent neck,
exposed.
phonies of ebony, yet full of subtle col
oring and mastery feeling; a dress of
rich brocaded velvet with a background
that represented vast receding space,
wondrously suggestive and awe-inspir-
ing
I was so fascinated with my discovery
that I sat staring at it until I nearly
fell asleep in my chair. Then 1 went to
bed and did not wake till aroused by
knock. When I inquired who was there
I recognized the voice of my visitor of
the day before Bidding him be patient
a moment I dressed hurriedly and let
him in
Good morning, Mr. Masters he said
on entering; I've brought you the
min
He stopped abruptly, the word seem
ing to choke him. He was all of a trem-
BILE, the only steady part of him being
his eyes, which were fixed upon the
easel, where I had left the portrait
found in the battered frame.
"a striking face. is it not?" 1 said, in
a good deal of wonderment at his agita-
ton. Il uncovered it last night
Uncovered iti' he repeated vaguely;
I've been looking for it these six years.
See here and he handed me tiny box
which I opened. 1t inclosed an ivory
disk, set in jewels, upon which was
painted, with most delicate workman
ship, the exact image of the face upon
my easel. Then took my turn at star
ing, my wonder growing the more care
fully I compared the two portraits
It's my daughter said he presently.
tlaaSa Iaai11tad short time