The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1905-03-11
LATEST PORTRAIT
OF POPE Plus x
The POPE GAVE A DOZEN SIT.
T1NGS TO AN AMERICAN
ARTIST,
From the New York World:

From the New York World:
The only portrait of a pope painted
oy an American artist will be exhibit
ed on Monday at the Catholic club. It
is life size picture of Plus x, done by
J. Charles AFTER. a portrait painter of
this city.
Mr.. AFTER moved his easels and ma
ter1als into the Vatican and had
daily audience with the pope for six
consecutive weeks. During that time
the pope posed a dozen times. one Of
his slttings lasting an hour and half.
The artist had the freedom of the Vat
lean. and at times followed the pope
from room to room during the holy ia
theirs social and official audiences. in
order to study the facial expression of
his subject, and so natural is the pic
ture said to be that the pope exclaimed
when he saw the finished product: 1T
is myself
The painting shows Plus standing in
simple house robe Of white. He is in
the attitude of pronouncing a bene-
diction, his right arm raised and bent
at the elbow. The full view of his pale
and benign face is expressive of relig-
ring adorns fin Asr and a large cross
with eleven deep rubies hangs from a
chain on his breast
He was a very patient subject" said
Mr.. AFTER. Pope Plus is the simplest
man I know. I made sketches of him IN
! his various costumes, but the one he pre-
ferred is that which you see In the paint
ing. 1t was plain white WOODEN ma terial.
| with sash Of silk. It is his house robe.
! and he wears 1t whenever he Is not re-
| quired to dress for a special OCCASION"
! Mr.. AFTER found that the pope met all
| men on the level of equality and not once
! was he austere during the times when he
posed for his picture.
During the sttings we talked freely or
a variety Of subjects. He was greatly In.
terested in America, having knowledge
Of its political affairs, but he was not sc
we'll grounded - regard to our CONNER.
cal matters. He seemed to imagine tina
all Americans must be wealthy, for the
reason, perhaps, that he only meets thu
! wealthy class. He questioned me like
; child particularly about the money sta tn:
! of the country.
"The picture was painted at time wher
the pope was under heavy menta
strain on account of the impending
breach between the papacy and thu
! French government over the question Of
clerica! education in France. The hol,
father was much perturbed over the con
ditions, bu: always maintained the calm
! genial exterior when in converse with his
people or sitting for the portrait.
HE looked very pale to me-" said Mr.
AFTER. IT knew him in Venice when he
was patriarch. Then he was a rudy
faced man and much younger looking
He has aged ten years since he ascendet
the papal throne His face is almos
colorless now. I suppose it is due 10 the
strain of Office
| When it came to the selection Of thu
jewels which were to appear In the por
trait the pope came out with a f1at-footet
preference for emeralds, but the arts
told aim that emera'ds would not show
we'll in the picture "Then make them a:
you wiz said the pope. II have al
kinds and wear al kinds" The favorite
cross Of the pope IS one with a large EN-
erald in the center. Occasionally he
wears plain gold band cross hung from
a small gold chain.
! The face was finished before Mr.. Artei
eft the Vatican. Not line has been
added since then. The finishing touches
on the figure were done in the artists
atalier in Rome. Mr.. AFTER paints ir
London during the spring and in New
York every winter. He is an Ohioan. but
rarely lives In Cleveland, which was his
| home.