Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-10-16

reason there has been an inclination in
recent years to assign To this great mas
ter lower place than heretofore he had
been siven--to decry him as perverter
of art ideais-and to look ascant at the
'prettinesS" of bis conceptions. IT, how
ever, one would grasp the real greatness
of this master it will only be necessary
to study the reproductions of his works
in this exhibition, wherein of all painters
he is most largely represented. AS an il
illustrator one first makes his acquaint-
ance, reproductions of fifty-two paintings
Illustrating the Old and New Testament
being set forth. The originals are on the
ceiling of the loggia of the Vatican and
they are engraved by Fanetti and others
who lived in tine seventeenth century.
Doubtless they were first made as plates
for a special edition of the Bible. the
title page Of which. inscribed to Chris
tina, Queen of Sweden. is shown.
Delicate Reproductions.
Next it is Raphael the mural decorator
that Is presented delicate outline engrav
ings being exhibited of lis famous Hours
Of the Day" and Days of the Week."
representations of gods and goddesses in
a spirit not remote from that which ami
mated in earlier ages the Greeks Still
more impressive will be found. however.
some of Raphaefs more elaborate com
positions, such, for example, as the De
iiverance of Saint Peter which is to be
seen over a doorway in the Vatican; his
school of Athens and the "Disputa.
likewise great mural paintings. And last
ly will be considered his NIadonnas, many
of which are most admirably reproduced.
The Madonna of the Chair In Flor
ence: the Madonna of the Candelabra."
In Madrid. replica of which Is In the
Walters collection at Baltimore: the
Madonna of the Court OF Naples" and
many others no less lovely.
But 1T is not Raphael alone who is rep
resented in this great collection of en-
cravings. Many of Michelangelos works
Aurora" in the Villa Ludovisi. Rome;
his noble portrait of himself, in the Cap
itoline Gallery. and his series of the
.'Sibyls" and the Prophets" I'm the Vail
figures purposed for decoration. designed
by him. painted by Vasari and engraved
by Piroli-the originals of which are to be
seen on the walls of the Villa Aitoviti,
Rome.
Carlo Grimaldfs engravings of da For
lis Angel and Cithern' and Angel With
Viol," in the sacristy of st. Peters, are
also shown, as is Raphael Morghens en-
craving of Guido Reni's painting, EST.
John in the Desert"
Murillo Well Represented.
There are beautiful engravings by Tom
masso di Lorenzo of Andrea del Sartos
Madonna Of the Sack and Madonna,
of the Harpies,' a superb reproduction
of Rubens' portrait of himself, and one
no less admirable of Leonardo da Vinci
Mona Lisa" Murillo is well represented,
as are also Perugino. Domenichino, II
Sassoferrato. A portrait and a painting
by Rubens are reproduced. and also are
Titian's Sacred and PrOfane Love-" and
several portrait sketches by Ingres,
among which may be mentioned like
ness of the great violinist Paganini.
One will find much which is informing,
as we'll as enjoyable. in this collection,
and derive from it a better appreciation
of the great heights attained in the re-
naissance by mural painters than from
the reading of many books. The national
collection has truly been enriched
through the generosity of the Italian gov
eminent. LEILA MECHLIN.