The National tribune., 1907-12-19
.rHE LAST SUPPER" BY LEONARDO DA v1NcI

Another reason given for its deteriora
ton is that Da Vinci, in the painting of
this famous picture, departed from the
usual methods of fresco painting, and
in order to reach a greater finish at
tempted some experiments, which led
to this fatal result. As the frescoes of
his great contemporaries, Michael An
gelo, Raphael and TitIans, are still Won
derfully preserved, there would seem
to be some truth in this solution of the
mystery The memory of the picture
can never die, of course. 1t has become
too familiar TO everyone thru the fine
steel engravfngs of It and the many
photographs, but the mastery portray
al of that little group, gathered around
the sacred table, the expression of each
face rejecting in the most marvellous
manner the dominant emotion of the
heart, has passed forever. Probably
the best copy of it is that made by An
drea Solari, which for many years has
been in the same room with the fresco
and used as a sort of key to assist IN
deciphering the fading outlines of the
original. Toward the end of the 18th
century the monastery of Santa Maria
dele GraZie was suppressed, and its
building used for cavalry barracks. The
rich frescoes of its walls were white
washed, hay was stored in the upper
rooms of the convent, horses were sta
DltU III lIlt lUNtI OlltS, "illit SllShSO
OF the sacred cloisterS, which in CEN
turies had only been broken by the
pious speech or softly murmured pray
er of monks, now resounded with the
noisy laughter of troopers. Not until
1892 did the Milanese begin to appre-
ciate the fact that the buildings pos
sessed great artistic and historic value,
and under the direction of the Fine
Arts Department the soldiers We're sent
elsewhere and the work of restoration
begun. After 15 years of patient, care
full work the church, cloisters and mon
astery have been restored, but the price
less gem of Da Vinci's matchless fresco
had passed beyond mend by the hand
Of mortal man.
It is said that the picture was paint
ed to please the wife of the Duke of
Milan, who amusing himself with 9TH
er members OF the fair sex, had neg
lected his lawful spouse. Like her un-
happy sisters all over the world when
love grows cold and lovers prove un-
kind, she turned to religion for COM
port, and being specially interested In
the dining-room of the monastery,
which was under her protection, and
where she often dined, the picture was
painted there. 1t was intended at first
that it should be simply decorative, but
As the artist worked the greatness of
his subject took possession of him, and
as the picture grew under the inspira-
tion of his genius, he determined to
make It the most famous painting in
the world
Who ever saw the "Stars and Stripes"
among the wedding gifts of bride, and
yet what more appropriate present
could be found? How many utterly
meaningless and useless articles are al
ways received by girls at this time from
I-zsx Frf< H.
walked thru the room or rooms where
these gifts have been proudly displayed
and, along with other dear friends of
the happy bride, commented freely upon
them, without being made fairly i'll by
the duplicates, everything that could be
Enthusiastically marked, of course? To
find something different from the con-
ventional gift, something not likely to
be duplicated, has caused many a sleep
less night to the donor, but the idea of
giving the National flag apparently has
never suggested itself, or, if So SO sell
dom that to most people it still has
the charm of novelty, or, rather, is an
entirely new thought What more i'm
portant factor In the founding of the
new home could there be than the flag
Beds, chairs, tables, etc, are more nee
essary to the bodily comfort, of course,
but the flag stands for something which
the young people just starting on the
new life cannot well ignore If they are
to set UP their lares and penates In an
apartment house they would net have
so much opportunity, perhaps, to use
the flag as in a house occupied only by
them; but no young couple expects to
spend their lives in this makeshift OF
home, and even then, If their days are
destined to be spent in an apartmen,
with nc front window from which t.
display it on appropriate occasions, il
could still be proudly unfurled and usei
decoratively inside. Children shoult
not be brought up in a home that doe.
not possess a flag. Their little brigh
eyes should be directed to its gay col
ors in stripes and stars from infancy
and as seon as their baby minds car
grasp anything be told their signif
canoe. 1t is interesting to know in thi
connection that the little old hous
where our beloved flag was born, tn,
first flag made by Betsy Ross at the re
quest of Gen. Washington, has beer
presented to the city of Philadelphia
1t was offered to the National Govern
ment two years ago. but declined OF
the ground that either the City Govern
rnent of Philadelphia or some patriotic
institution Of that State should own and
care for 1t.