The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1910-11-02
From Contemporary De-
scription of Savior.
A VERY OLD LETTER REVIVED
Wherein is Given Vivid De-
IineatiOn by Man Who
Saw Jesus.
MOST REMARKABLE DOCUMENT

The chance whim of a Roman
Senator who happened to be making
a pilgrimage 1900 years ago
through Palestine has led to an en-
tirely new representation of the
Christ The Senator, by name Len
tuIus Justinian, saw the Nazarene,
and was so impressed by the Great
Teacher that he wrote q letter back
to the Roman Senate describing the
appearance of Him in whom, even at
that early stage in His career, he
saw a menace to Rome and pagan
ISM
That letter was preserved by
Greek historian, and eventually fell
into the hands of Rene Menard, the
French scholar. M. Menard incor-
porated the letter in his Historic de
Beau Art" published almost half
century ago.
Miss Mary Elizabeth 1illinghast,
the foremost woman artist in Amer
lea, picked up Menard's book while
on a visit to France some years ago
and read LentuIus's letter, which M.
Menard had translated with pains
taking accuracy into modern French.
Immediately the idea or new Christ
came to Miss Tfllinghast, and she
found a practical opportunity for the
idea to bear fruit when she received
an order for a panel entitled "The
Resurrection" for the Central Con-
gregationaI Church in Toledo, Ohio.
The completed picture represents
Christ just after the resurrection.
Mary Magdalene is at the right of
the ellipticaT composition, and the
Angel of the Broken Sepulcher at
the left.
Here is the letter from Lentulus
to the Senate, giving the description
which the artist has utilized
80 At this time there APP |
peared a man who is still living and
is endowed with great power. His |
name is Jesus Christ. His deciples
call Him the Son of God. Others re-
gard Him as a powerful prophet. He
raises the dead to life and heals the
sick of all sorts of diseases and in
firmities. This man is tall and we'll |
proportioned. His expression Is Sc
we're and full of virtue. Merely gaz-
ing at Him, one fears and loves Him.
The hair on His head is the color OF
wine, and from crown to ears
straight and brilliant, from ears to
shoulders full and curly. His hair
is divided into two parts, after the
manner of the Nazarenes. His fore
head is broad and smooth.
"His face is without a mark, and
bears a slight flush. His nose and
mouth are frreproachable. His beard
is abundant, and in color the same as
His hair. His eyes are blue and very |
brilliant. His speech is amiable and
and marvelousIy gracious. No one
has even seen Him laugh a single
time, but He has been seen to weep.
Slight of figure, He has charming |
hands and arms. His hands are
straight and long and His arms de-
lightfuI. He is grave and measured
in His discourse, conservative OF
speech. His face is that of the most
beautiful of the children of men,"
Miss Tillinghast's conception of
Christ is masculinely unconvention-
al. Her conception also of Mary
Magdalene is unusual. In Miss Til
Iinghast's panel the human Mary is
rendered human. There is express
sion in every line of the face that is
turned so earnestly in the direction
of her Savior. Mary is shown kneel-
ing and bearing the bowl Of spice
with which she had come to embalm
the body of her Master.-[Washing-
ton Post.