Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1900-06-14
PAINTING LEo's PORTRAIT.

PAINTING LEo's PORTRAIT.
II. J. Thaddeus Gives Some Interest.
ing "Reminiscences.
| H.. J. Thaddeus, the artist, makes
the following interesting contribution
to recent issue of Mainly About
People:
If, as the dictionary declares, a
sitter be zone who SITS" the term is
paradoxical applied to Pope Leo XIII.
Nervously restless, he rarely sits for
any length of time, and never with
out tncessant changes of attitude.
| The difficulty Of producing, under
| these circumstances a satisfactory
likeness of his holiness, maye be i'm
agined; rapidity of draughtsmanship
is indispensable, and l found quick
studies of his individual features, the
deep-set eye, the mobile mouth, large
and characteristic ear, of great as
sistance. The Pope has a precon-
ceived idea Of how. he desires to have
his portrait appear. Squaring him.
self in his seat, his hand upraised,
with two fingers extended as in the
act of benediction, a conventional
smile drawing back his colorless lips,
he would sit motionless for a mo-
ment, stiffening every muscle as we
all do in Photographic expectancy;
then, abandoning 1t, 'Voila, mon en-.
fant!" he would exclaim, with an air
of triumph.
NO
had determined not to represent Leo
XIII. In painting him, one must, as
it were, paint the mind and soul of
this remarkable man, for they seem
to shine through the frail, almost dia-
phanous flesh they have subdued. In
telligent, ascetic, with broad forehead,
the thin skin of which shows the
tracery of the veins, with massive
features and deep.set eyes of startling
brilliancy in countenance pallid
and composed as that of a corpse
1t was thus that Leo XIII appeared
to me, a dominant and imposing per-
sonality, whether arrayed in the SIM
pie sottana of white wool and the
plain calotta (skull-cap) as | first
painted him. or in splendid pontifical
robes and priceless gems.
The Pope has changed but little
since I had the honor. in 1884. of
painting him. How we'll l remember
my introduction to him. 1t was my
| first important commission. The
| Pope received me with the utmost
kindness, but could not conceal his
| surprise that so young a man should
have been chosen for the work. He
was much interested in the portrait,
| and gave me every assistance, except
that of remaining still, which. per-
haps, was out of his power. When
I submitted the portrait he was some
what distressed at the look of age
| given therein, and he demonstrated
gently, saying, Mon, enfant, les
Papes mont pas d'age!" And truly
Leo Kills frail form has set the years
at defiance. For. while prepared for
sanctity, he believes that his race
here below is not yet run Long
life," he said, 'is characteristic of
the Pecci family; they live long, but
death comes to them suddenly in the
end-very suddenly" he repeated.
This was certainly the case with his
holiness's grandfather, who died very
suddenly indeed, but at the age of 90.
During the sittings Leo XIII talked
insessantly in French sometimes,
sometimes in Italian. and always with
extreme rapidity. His range of sub
jects was extensive. He spoke of
strange experiences in brigand-infest-
ed Benevento, where as delegate he
restored peace; of England. and of his
nunciature at Brussels. He told me,
to my great surprise. that he had
only commenced to study French
when appointed to Belgium, and Il
could speak it as fuently as do now
by the time l reached Brussels" he
said. king Leopold used to exclaim,
4 forget Pecci is an Italian Virgil
and Dante, Kneipp and the water
lcure, the condition of Ireland-these
are some Of the subjects on which
Leo XIII. discoursed with knowledge
land discernment. taking snuff con-
stantly. Latterly, by medical advice,
he has renounced this, his one indul-
Igence. have been indeed fortunate
lin my sitters-Gladstone, the Able
List. the general of the Jesuits, Sir
Richard Overland many others,
whose conversation was an intellectu-
lal treat; but, inspired by his wonder
full personality and gracious kindli-
ness, l never worked with deeper in
terest than at the portraits of my
august sitter, Pope Leo XIII.