The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-22
PORTRAIT OF HIS HOLINESS THE POPE,
PAINTED BY GREAT FRENCH ARTIST
What Benjamin Constant Has to Say Regarding Pope
Leo Kill, Whom He Regards as the Most
Wonderful Man That Ever Lived.


PARIS, July, TT have had the hon
or of painting the greatest man In the
Eorlds-So said the great French artist,
BENJAMIN ConStant-'-the most absolute
" wonderful man that ever lived. for
such i believe Pope Leo XIII. to be.
BENJAMIN Constant, fresh from a visit
10 Rome, sat in his magnificent studio IN
: Paris and described to his caller the
great painting which has made him the
most talked about artist of the season;
and which will bring him down into pos
ferity as the de1inI1tor of the features
OF one of the most remarkable men the
world has ever known.
The Pope does not like to sit for his
portrait, and. therefore, when Sir Ben
ja1nin applied for permission to paint
him, it was at first refused; however.
when the artist described the magnitude
OF the work and its importance, Ills Hol-<
iness gave his permission, and the paint
ing went rapidly forward
ITO those who think that the last day
OF the Pope is near. only want to say
that he speaks with the yigor of a young
man,. said the artist, land his voice is
pure and good.
81 arrived at the Vatican at IL A NJ
The Pope would soon receive and bless
more than $1,000 pilgrims in old st. Pc
ter's.
1.-The pious Travellers dust-laden, with
heavy, wearied step, stream through the
three large portals. Like strayed sheep.
they run hither and thither through the
vast sanctuary. AT last there is a con-
certed movement toward the altar OF
confession under the large dome. Then
all fall on their knees, men, and women,
and repeat their chaplets.
This murrnur Of prayer is soon lost
In the noise of the multitude which
presses forward seeking to be near the
passage through which the Holy Father
will pass. The bassiica is now filled
with compact crowd All are thrilled
with eXpectant emotien
-.All eyes are directed toward the chap
FL through which the Pope will enter.
Another lot of tardy arrivals-prlnces
and ambassadors. accompanied by their
secret chamberlains and few grand
dames-make their way 10 the tribunes
Il reserved for them.
BREAT1ILESS SILENCE.
Finally the door of the chapel opens,
and there is breatiless silence. The
Swiss guards are seen to range them.
selves IN their places: the officers of the
Noble Guard draw their swords. and sud
denly, in a golden penumbra, vague
z form appears above their heads in the
distance.
Nearer and nearer draws the figure
on a red throne borne by men in red.
IS .Mh2t a venerable Ola man!
1.-The beneficent Vicar of Christ seems
capable OF bestowing not only, on this
multitude, bu; on the whole world. now
and forever, all the happiness he desires
for mankind.
LAS the Pope approaches the confess
sional. the pilgrims. no longer able to
contain themselves. applaud enthusiast
ideally, Viva il Papa-Re!''
Here is a king indeed, one who is
"a,
"a king who will kneel and pray With
them right at their side, with all the
pomp of royalty.
1.-The applause of the pilgrims is re-
Trained by more than twenty thousand
voices under the lofty vaults of the
grand cathedral
..An This orerpowers the senses and
the emotions by Its religious grandeur.
Twenty thousand heads bend to re-
reire the parting benedictions Of His
Holiness, who. with hands lifted over
the multitude and with loving smiles,
returns TO the privacy of the Vatican.
1.-The next morning went to the Vat
lean by appointment. to paint His Holt
aess.
cit is in the privacy of the Vatican
that the lustre Of Pope Leo AliI. shines
brightest.
.sldaring had the honor Of painting the
portrait of His Holiness. will endeavor
10 describe him-an imprudent and dan
Eerous task.
Cardinal Matthew conducted and IN
4 PRODUCED me to the Pope
1T was o'clock in the morning. All
the church bells rang the first mass and
6 the streets again tee,ned with countless
crowds of pilgrims.
.-The blanched appearance of the Pope
s. surprised me. despite what had learned
81 about his gradual emaciation. The face