Los Angeles herald., 1907-06-23
MASTERPIECE
Of ARTISTS
IS COMPLETED
Production Predicts
the Last Supper
Struggling Geniuses Work in obscu-
rity Until Record Piece of Pyro=
graphic Work Is Success
fully Finished
BY HOWARD II. KRUGER

Verify 1 say unto you, one OF you
shall betray me-"
This famous utterance of the Christ,
made at the last supper, has been the
guiding theme for almost every great
religious painter who ever attempted
to portray the sublimity and grandeur
of that scene. Among the millions OF
copies of this famous picture which
have been circulated throughout the
homes of Catholic and Protestant, the
concept of Leonardo da Vinci is un-
doubtedly the best known
This work of the master, the only
painting which he ever finished COM
pletely, has been copied by countless
artists since his day; and fac simoles
either in cheap lithograph or in higher
priced steel engravings, adorn the
homes of devout worshipers all over
the world.
Absolutely unique in it's conception
is the latest copy of this famous mas
terpiece, recently completed by two
Los Angeles artists, Messrs. Hanson
and Uphouse The picture is Won
derfully exact copy of the great orig
inal, done in wood carving and pyro-
graphic work.
A large piece of California sugar
pine, seven by ten feet in size and two
inches thick has been used for the
picture Charles Uphouse drew the
designs and figures in free hand, and
his comrade, A. ]. Hanson, carved out
the figures in bas relief. Then Up
house completed the work, giving ex-
preston to the figures with his skill
full pyrographic needle.
Scene Intensely Dramatic
Every detail of the original, except
a fancy border on the tablecloth, has
been faithfully adhered to by the art
lists At the center of the table sits
the Christ his eyes cast down and q
look on his face of commisseration for
the wretch who was to betray him.
To his right John the beloved sits, his
hands clasped and leaning back on the
stalwart Peter for support in his sor-
row at the dread announcement. The
betrayer has leaned forward, falling
heavily on the table and overturning
the salt celar-whence arises the su-
perstition that bad luck will result
from overturning the salt. His dark
eyes CLEAN sinister from beneath the
shaggy broWs and he looks with de-
fiant alarm at the assembled crowd
fearing that his perfidy has been dis
covered AS if to add to his shame he
is depicted clasping with greedy hold
the bag of silver for which he has sold
his Lord. Peter has arisen. and with
his hand on a partly drawn knife
seems as if asking who the traitor is
that he may Wreak summary punish
ment. Andrew lifts both his hands
deprecatingly, and James is represent
ed as having profile much like
Christs, to whom he was said to be
related. Bartholomew has arisen to
his feet and is standing, leaning on
the table, intensely interested in the
masters tragic declaration. The other
disciples are grouped on the left, in
various postures of surprise and indig
nation. A certain strong masculinity,
an Improvement on, the puerile beauty
of the disciples faces as represented
by the Italian copyists, characterizes
the new production.
Carving Is Superb
Hansons carving shows to wonderful
advantage in bringing out the sur
roundings of the famous scene. The
heavy ceiling beams stand out prom
inently, the windows curtained all
around the room except behind the
Christ, are wonderfully true to life.
These three windows open to the
light of the setting. sun, form back
ground of glory for the Lord of the
universe, against which he shows
with an ethereal glow, as compared to
the dark ground against which the
disciples are placed. Through the
open windows, the hills and dwellings,
of the far-away Jerusalem are clear
iy shown. So true were the artists to