The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-04-14
AN ART PUZZLE OF
 TIE AGES SOLVED ). Pierpont Morgan Supplies Very Important Link ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT Loaned to the Academy of lnscrip- tions--It Delights French Saw
 ants-A Thirteenth Cen
 tury Mystery.
ILLUMINATED MANUSCRIPT

Paris Cable to the New York Sun. The Academic des Inscriptions ct Belles- Lettres enjoyed a scholarly aesthetic treat the other day through the opportune kind ness of J. Pierpont Morgan who recently placed at the disposition of one of the members an invaluable bit of illuminated manuscript which has long been sought. MT. Morgan merely lent one of his pos sessions to a savant who was capable of appreciating and utilizing it. but the French regard his act as very gracious one, since it involved parting temporarily with q priceless treasure for which the whole scholarly world has sought vainly for long time.
 The revelation of this manuscript was nothing less than an explanation of q mystery of the thirteenth century, pro- vokngly interesting remains of which are divided between the Bodlelan library, the Biblotheque Rationale and the British museum. Now in the private collection of MT. Morgan is discovered the key
 which will sooner or later unlock this puzzle of ages.
 When Leopold Delise, the former di- rector of the Bibiotheque Rationale, ap-
 peared at the institute he wore all Acad- emic variety of the smile that won't come off, and he aroused the curiosity of his colleagues as he deposited reverently on table a case containing a manuscript. Later that Academic smile of scholarly satisfaction overspread the faces of his colleagues gathered about the green cov- cred table for at the very opening of the q, of al 1la.t juvenile eagerness, explained his pious burden. It was no less than lost page of the book known 10 all scholars, the famous Bible Moralisee," the most con siderable work of the thirteenth century | in illuminated manuscript
 BaffIed Students.
 The richness Of this production of the middle ages has baffed students because they could not find by whose order la bor of such remarkable magniticence had been executed. The book contains some
 thing like 5000 medalions, which are de- scribed as being eacn more remarkable than the other, veritable artistic model. Only one copy Is known, and that is di- vided into three volumes one in each of the institutions already named, but nowhere has there been any explanation of the circumstances of the works pro- duction.
 For twenty-five years M. Delisle has sought this part of the manuscript, final ly tracing it. only to see it vanish myS- teriousy last summer. Three months lat CT, however he learned that MT. Morgan had 1t. An English friend who was on a visit to America asked MT. Morgan to permit Delsle to see it. This request was granted, wherefore the great joy which yesterday spread through the Academic. We should recognize,' said M. Delisle, 'the fine spirit of MT. Morgan in bringing back to France for some days so precious a relic"
 MT. Morgan's page Is magnifcently H. luminated with a blue and gold founda- tion It depicts the king and queen of i France, under whose auspices the work was done The painting was apparently by miniaturlsts of Paris or monks of the neighboring monasteries. The king ap- pears to be Saint Louis, and the queen either his mother, Blanche de Castillo, or his wife, Marguerite de Provence.
 Another discussion has been launched
 as to the verity of the works of art found in great museums or. collections and the verity of the attributions in the cata- l logues as to the painters or subjects. M. Lair of the Institute in new work on 1 Louise de la Valliere and the youth of Louis XIV. finds that a portrait which l has long been exhibited at Windsor Castle
 as Henrietta of England, daughter of l Charles l., and another exhibited at Yer sailles as Elizabeth of Bavaria, the duch-
 of Orleans, are both really portraits of
 Louise de la Valliere Both show moth-
 CT and two children.
 The Windsor Portrait. | NJ. Lair after visits in the company of l academieians to " ndsor observed the re-