Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-24
TEN IDEAS Of CHRIST
Conceptions of the Savior by
American Artists.
PAINTINGS IN NEW YORK
Result Of q Discussion Over a Year
Ago in Cleveland.
EFFECT OF RACIAL INFLUENCE
What Has Been Attempted in the Re-
cent Observation-Disclosures in
the Different Works.
BY WILLIAM E cupr1,

BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS
ooiiespondence OF The Star and the Chicago
Record Herald
NEW YORK, May %. 1906.
year or more ago a party of Young
seheIeiheh IN Cleveland who are inter-
es'eu IN art and nave travelled a great deal
"eio discussing the various conceptions
'he SaVlors appearance which have
peen expressed on canvas bv differant
generations of artists since the invention
OF painting. Each related his own exne-
.iehce ana the results of his observations
al the great galleries and churches of the
world and they agreed that. as rnla tha
great painters who have attemntad ~ ~
tray the features of Christ have reneraIIv
represented Him to be a man OF tbeir
own race. A German artist Invariably
represents him with German features
Inc ideal OF Dutchman cannot he d.
vested or the same racial tendencies
livery Christ painted by an Italian is moro
OF an Italian than a Jew, and the Rus
slams Always paint a handsome muzhik
Ihese gentlemen were unable however To
remember any distinct American con-
ception of the Redeemer and after sew
eral conferences they concluded to organ
lze company, contribute whatever CAPT
TAI was necessary, and invite a certain
NUMBER OF recognized American artists to
expressing. without instructions or sug-
gestions' his own idea of how the Master
must have appeared at his maturity
Inc results of this experiment ire now
on exhibition In the rooms of the Amer
lean Art Company at As West 42d street.
New York. There are ten pictures in the
group. The following is the list and the
the catalogue:
|. Kenyon Cox. Come Unto Me-"
2 William H. Crane Thy viii be
8. Charles G. Curran, Come Unto Me-"
I. Frank Vincent Du Mond, He That is
without Sin Among You, Let Him First
Cast a Stone"
8. George Hitchcock, Christ the Preach
err"
6. Frederick s. Lamb The Old and the
New Jerusalem"
7. Joseph LAUDER, In Him was Life;
and the Life was the Light of Men
8. John La Fargo, Yea, Though 1 Walk
Through the Valley of the Shadow of
Death, 1 will Fear No Evil, for Thou Art
with Me"
g. Will H. Low. He That is Without
Sin Among You, Let Him First Cast
Stone"
10. Carl Melchers, The Man of Sor-
rows"
, The ten contributors were well selected.
John La Fargo is the dean of American
religious painters, and his grand fresco in
the Church of the Ascension in New York
city is perhaps the most famous that has
yet been produced in this country. He is
also the greatest modern master in stained
glass. In this exhibition he is represented
by a characteristic figure Of Christ as the
good shepherd. 1t Is the work of scholar
and painter and of one who has the gift of
expression in color. Yet, to the multitude
I am sure that Mr.. La Farge's idea of
Christ will not be so acceptable as several
others. He says that he found his inspi-
ration for this picture in the fourth verse
of the twenty-third Psalm:
"Yea, though I walk through the valley
Of the shadow of death, will fear no evil;
for Thou are with me; Thy rod and Thy
staff they comfort me-"
Mr.. Du Mond's Idea.
Frank Vincent Du Monds Baptism of
Christ" established the high standing of
this young artist several years ago, and
he has given US a striking picture which
he calls Christ and the Adulteress." Mr..
Du Mond says:
although as painter believe picture
should be complete expressions, requiring
no explanation, 1 have finally been per-
suaded to write few words of comment
1.-THE motive of the picture is the COM
passionate appeal TO thte noblest in man for