The St. Louis Republic., 1904-12-18
INNOVATIONS IN RELIGIOUS ART.

How shall the modcrn painter attempt 10 por-
tray the Christ: OF he will draw the nohest
face and head which he create canvas. and
will give to the form and features all gentlenesS,
and attempt-what painter has Yet accomplished
to combine with that scnleness regal strength.
But against what background shall that figure he
displayed: Shall the artist be content with the
conventional setting of the old masters: If so. the
old masters have already excclled his best efforts
and he hardly be other than an imitator.
Or shall he attempt 10 reproduce the scenes
among which Jesus actually lived and moved: This
now has become possible as it was not TO the early
artists, who knew little nothing about Palestine
and who attempted antiquity only by producing
something unlike that with which they were fam-
lar. Some modern artists have done this. Tissot
has given thoroughly realistic representations of
modern Palestine, and has portrayed the Christ
walking the hills and along the highways of
actual Palestine, little changed i'll its external fe
lures through the intervening centuries.
But another school Of artists has chosen n diff
ferent method They have reproduced the Christ
in conventional form, but have made bis surround
ings modern Some of these. like the paintings of
Roederstein and kirchbach. reproduce the of
the blessing of the children with of the ancient
accessories of artificial reverence In these Jesus
wears no halo. There IS no group Of eager mothers
interested disciples about. There is Jesus simple
and unaffected. and there the children. healthy
modern little folks with hair in clrls or pigtas or
tumbled with play. They 10 him unrestrained
hy any sense OF awe. and yet with q reverencc the
deeper because unrestraned by OUTSIDE Interference.
One of the recent paintings of the youth of Jesus
is by French painter. Francis Lefrond. 1t hangs
appropriately above the altar in the church which
marks the alleged site of the carpenter shop of
n II ic
guides or guide books anything about it and there
are but few photographs of it. Doctor William +.
Barton, the author of Jesus of Nazareth His Life
and the Scenes of Ills Ministry and THE Old
World i'll the New Century describes it thus: 1t
represents 4 beautiful lad at the bench in n car
penter shop as realistic could he desired while
Mary and Joseph watch his every movement with
Interest and ponder in their hearts the questions of
his birth and his growing manlincsS. and the mys-
terry of power in him they do not understand
Doctor Bartons deeply interesting discussion of
the question of INNOVATIONS in Religious Art forms
The leading feature OF the Christmas number of The
Republics Magazine. Photographic reproductions
of some Of the celebrated modern conceptions OF
which he speaks accompany the article These
alone would make the feature remarkable.
Much variety characerzes Christmas num-
her. Hezekiah Butterworth contributes a South
Wings Invisible" which for Christmas story is al
together unique.
Chasing Love Up Blind Alley" is the catchy
title Of Carroll Watson Rankin's entertaining story
John Kendrick Bangs has long but Il very
readable and diverting. story entitled Check Num-
her 11306 The editor of Puck has not in many a
day done better tale.
Marshall Wilder. still the sunny side of The
street, writes The UneNpectel'a happy title
for n Christmas story. To read it is to laugh with
ihe man who has laughed with the worlds great
John X. Neill has feature that will not fail 10
entertain the children-if happily there are any
about your house. And Carolyn Wells has emf
rcntly funny poem the Inanimates Christmas
Tree. in which shr gives free rein her nonsense
for the childien's benefit Carolyn Wells also con-
tributes Christmas farce entitled substitute for
Santa Claus
Clinton Scol!ard and Elizabeth EugSles are rep