The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-10
GET RICH RETURNS
. FOR PAOTOGRAP HIS
Picture-Takers Admitted to
Vatican Do FIourishing
Business.
DEMAND is ALWAYS LARGE
Famous Austrian Artist Now
Painting Portrait OF His
Holiness.
DEMAND IS. ALWAYS LARGE
BY HENRY WOOD.


Especial Cable to Tho Times-Dispatch.)
Rome. March 9.--Somc figures recent
~ made public In Rome show that
photographers who ara permitted to
take photographs OF the Pope do a
ilourshing business.
The Pope is probably the most ex-
tensively photographed person in the
world. Practically all Catholic families
iuNc picture OF itis tiuiIncss as nave
thousands OF non-C Catholics. The work
OF supplying TINS demand is therefore
very prontaule and much sought al
ter py photographers.
The Pope at all times has what Is
known as official photographer.
1 ms ia usually some very prominent
Catholic. who has been inaao Il member
or one of the nigh orders of tile att
can. He takes the photographs not
onIy OF the POPE, but OF All the 1uuc-
tons ut the Vatican and 81. pcters
Naturally there is something of u re-
ciprocal financial transaction in con-
nection with this post, the photograph
or probably giving large sum of
money TO the onurcn. but the exact ma
turc of this has never been made pub
lie.
The privilege OF photographing His
Holiness, however, Is from time to time
accorded to other photographers. and
IL is the figures on the prouts thut are
nauc by these that have just been
made public. When photographer Is
given this privilege he generally gives
AIS Holiness sou elegantly mounted
copies OF the photograph. which tho
Pope uses in making autographed pres
ents TO his friends. and thon donates
In addition sum of money towards
the support OF the church. The Pope
Il.. h.. -.
diction written In his own hand. ami
this the photographer is at liberty to
reproduce and print In corner of his
photograph.
The investigation that was made into
the profits OF these photographers
shows that about one-third OF their In
come IL from the sale u likencsses Of
His Holiness. 1t was found that
photographer whose annual income
from his business was about $4,000 lire.
derived 1T least 10000 lire OF this from
the Pope's pictures. Needless to say,
the profits of the photographer who is
commissioned as the one official photo
grapher by each Pope are immeasur
ably larger.
1t seems to have been definitely set
tied for some time 10 come, at least.
that the Pope and the Vatican VIII
remain immune from the moving pic
ture takers. The Vatican has been APP
preached repeatedly OF late by the var
ious moving picture houses, all of whom
were willing TO donate handsomely to-
wards the support OF the church II
they could be allowed to take films OF
His Holiness, the various ceremonies
and functions and the regular routine
Inside the Vatican.
The various propositions were sub
mltted TO the Congregation OF Rites,
composed OF some OF the most eminent
cardinals in the Sacred College, but
permission was refused. Pope Plus has
also lately declined to deliver an ad-
dress in n photograph, this, however
being based largely upon the unpleas-
ant circumstances which followed the
giving of such an address by Pope Leo
XIII.
Naturally. the painting of the por-
trait OF the Pope is another privilege
eagerly sought after by the best ar
lists OF the world. There is always a
large demand for painted portraits of
His Holiness. not only on the part Of
private parties, but for thousands of
churches, houses Of the various religi-
Gus orders and sacred institutions gem
orally. The artist who can secure the
privilege therefore is also assured not
only of honor but of substantial re-
turns for his work.
Just at present Pope Plus y has con :
scented to have his portrait painted By
Count I.ippay. the famous Austrian por-
trait painter. The Pope has commission
ed the artist TO paint three portraits,
all In different poses, one Of which will
be presented TO the Emperor of AUS
trIa, another to the residence or the
papal ambas sa dor to the Austrian court
and the third to the Royal Art Gal
lery at Vienna.
Naturally the Pope can only accord
:, very limited amount Of time to an
artist for sittinrs. and in the present
instance His Holiness save only four
aittings. and is now being substituted
by a pontlfical employee of the Flor
eria," who greatly resembles Ills I5oi' :
ness. especially In his poses and other
characteristics III addition. of course,
the artist has the very latest photo
graphs of His Holiness from which to
work.
Following the completion OF this
commission for the Pope Count i.ippay
will paint the portrait of a number OF
| the most prominent cardinals. lnciud
inc cardinal OC'onnell Of Boston.