Connecticut western news., 1901-05-02
THE PAINTERS
ANGEL :. :. :. :.

HALLE ERMINIE RIvEs

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The painter sat in his square studio
with his head bowed In his hands.
The four walls Of the room had each
a window, relieved by dingy curtains,
and the floor was bare. The mans
face was drawn and gaunt, and when
he raised his head his eyes were very
bright.
These years. he cried to the ST.
lence. -Four of them, day after day,
week after week. always striving, al
ways laboring to express the thought
which is In my brain. always impotent
because of poverty. always toiling
through three days that on the fourth
l may have models and materials for
my great work! l feel the power with
in me, but / am helpless. Others
around me succeed. l envy them. and
my envy strangles the lovely thing
which l try to paint, and its features
grow CHASTITY and hateful to me. Ii
could only finish this one picture! But
I cannot without hours of work with
costly models and many days of appli-
cation which l must spend In earning
my bread. And the inspiration will
not wait. 1t fades DINNER while l
fight on. If it passes. am lost"
He bowed his head In his hands
again. and his shoulders moved as
though with sobbing.
Just then figure, white and shining.
drifted down through the open sky
light and stood beside him. The paint
er raised his head. He knew that the
visitor was an angel. for he had seen
angels In his dreams. He clasped his
hands and knelt at the angels feet. and
the tears were still on his face.
The angel was looking at the canvas
spread upon the easel. 1t was jum-
BILE Of huge forms. for the painter was
to represent upon it great allegory
OF humanity entitled THE Triumph
Of Life" why are you not at work 2
the stranger asked. The painter
stretched his arms wide with de
spairing gesture. 1t was hopeless and
helpless. 1t meant want. desire. pow
erty. agony. duplication, all blent into
one.
The angel regarded him pitifully for
a moment. II have n master" he said,
'in whose gallery are the models Of all
the greatest works Of the world.
Nothing is missing. l have come to
give you his invitation to paint In it"
The painter lifted his head eagerly.
There was question upon his face.
1T Is wide gallery" the angel went
on. with four wings. In these wings
have sat all the great artists of all
times to do their labor. In 1t they
have received their first Inspirations
from the great art ideal of which they
were the interpreters. There Michael
Angelo brought his rough stone to set
free its angelic forms: there came Bee
thoven, it's harmonies of form and of
color hymning themselves to him In
splendid music. Thither came Raphael
to gaze upon the glorious hues and In
the peace and beauty of its aisles to
paint the delicate lovellness OF the
Christ child. In its alcoves sat Keats
and Shelley. gazing till its various
beauty rang from their souls into a
full and fragile voice Of song. There
they framed those sweet harmonies
which, unheard. were sweeter. All
these men have learned In this great
gallery. Today the masters sit In 1t
working and striving to interpret and.
In giving their all to the world, to
show to those to whom admittance is
forever denied, because they have not
the souls to appreciate this art, little
portion Of the enduring beauty OF the
collection"
II have never heard OF this gallery"
said the painter.
True" said the angel "You have
been too busy with this great painting"
He touched the easel as he spoke.
The painter hung his head. 81 am
not ft," he said. Ito sit with these
great artists l would better work lon
ger here"
mot so" said the angel gently. You
have the win to do. The candle Is
burning In your soul"
The painters lips moved silently. but
the angel understood him. Take me
with you to this gallery" he was say
ing.
The angel stepped to the western win
dow Of the room and dung 1t open wide.
The painter came and stood beside
him. Can we see II from hereY said
he. The angel nodded. This is one of
the four great wings of my masters
gallery" he said Look
The painters gaze followed bis 1t
was spring. A little soft wind was
blowing. The starting grass in the gar
den below was light. placid green.
Just beyond was peach tree In bloom.
with darling bees about 1t There Is
nothing but pastels In this wing" said
the angel, ..the soft colors and clear
tints which belong to an opaque medi-
um." He reached out his hand and
drew In a climbing rose that had reach
ed to the easement "Was anything
more exquisiteY' be said. Then. softly
and carefully lest 1t should brush of
Its petals against the rough window
ledge, he bent 1t back to Its place
against the gray wall
Close your eyes" the angel said 81
will show you the second wing" The
painter felt himself led to the south
window. "Now look" said his guide
A strange change had come over the
landscape In that short moment A
mellower flush softened the foliage Of
the trees and deepened the hues Of
the blossoms. The sky itself had q
stronger and more vivid blue. ''In this