Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-03-10
BISHOP 0'CONNELL SPEAKS
ON RAPHAEL'S MADONNA
Gives New Conception of This
Masterpiece.
HEARD by LARGE AUDIENCE
Distinguished Prelate Quotes Wide
Range OF Critics In Their Inter-
pretatiOnS Of Great Painting
Items OF Personal Interest.

hhphacis HaHonna or the CHAIR, Rt.
Rev. II. j. OConncll re, forth his Inter
probation Of the meaning that the mas
'"r pain'ef has wrought upon this can
vas The club parlors were iillod with
. tremendous audience that overlooked
INTO tho halls and antcroons OF the club.
ana Miss Adele Clarke introduced the
dlstlnRuiBh"d prclatc to HIS hearers.
b'shop O'connrll discusgcd this old
rTastcrpicce from "a variety Of view
points. lie traced the numerous stories
"onccrningf it's painting to their false
sources and gave Il number of criticisms
from wcll-known art connoisscurs
FIRST. he explained to his audience the
meaning and conception OF such paint
ings and just what the artiat Intend.
ed TO portray In 81 madonna. Christian
art from tho very beginning suppressed
the dclincatior of the human form and
emphasized the beauty Of the spirit
Thus II remained w TO the time OF the
beloved st Francis OF Assist. when art
turned to nature once more. IT WAS this
Welding OF the beauty OF the human
form. borrowed from Plagiarism and
the Christian conception OF tho virtues
OF ~" soul that reached its elimination
IN tho period Of the Renaissance
~ madonna" tho speaker stated
meant the loft!cst conception OF femi-
hinc beauty that tho imag ination Of the
artist could create. The painter invest
ch his work with every virtue that he
'o'H's n woman ana threw about the
whole mystery OF grace that spcaks OF
heaven These famous rnadonnas can
only mean the creation of tho best that
was in the soul Of tn" artist and the
highest effort of tho irnaEination.
This effort OF Raphnei's was COM
piet"d just four years before his death
and one sees whole life of beauty and
divinity gazing out from the figures
portrayed there. y noted critic saws
mat Raphael has given this painting
Thousand ch;kns OF art. and a Floren-
tine scholar has H. that II is a flower
o! exquisite beauty from the garden Of
nature. and with wonderful skill trans
planted into tho realm OF art"
Bishop OConnelrs Interpretation Of
the Madonna OF tho Chair is n won
derfuiiy original and Interesting one.
III charming fashion he wovc the story
OF meaning to his mind, drawn from the
INSPIRATION Of this old master Within
That narrow arch is concentrated all th.
maternal spirit OF the world It's orig
NAL colors arc rs bright as tho day they
'"re put on, aud tho artist has placed
i INC robe OF purple about the wo,naus
| shoulders FOR She liz daughter OF
David. The mantel OF blue for the vir-
'uca OF heaven is across her knees and
over her shoulders the garment is green
to signify hope
Bishop o'ConnciI does not see In this
p!"tur" the fullness % maternal joy !.
SENS 10 MN a serious, thoughtful rep
TcSentatloH The lips Of the wo,na n n re-
closed IN resolution ami the WAYS Of
The tw" chi.dren are not the WAYS OF
joyfnl children. Tho keynote TO tho
whole canvas is the startled expression
IN the eyes of both mother and child
ana III" tragedy upon the face of the
child John. reflected in tho other two
All SEQ the vision OF the cross
The original Is in Florence and is ono
OF nc Re" paintings begun and finished
by the painter himself Many consider
IL the most perfectly conceived and TN.
shed art ever executed by Raphael
Eishop o'CunncIl is a brilliant leo
turor, and His address Yesterday, sct
ting forth rs own conception of the
meaning OF this great work Of art, was
ono OF the most scholarly and mastery
lectures that has boon given before IN.
VT Club In many years.
Mira. Louis VI. Spain announces tho
Engagement and approaching marriage
If her daughter Grace Louise to Allen
earl Tyler. The marriage will lie cole
IRA ted some time in April
inrton Heights Wcnnn's club.
The Womau's Club or Barton Heights
''ii hold its postponed monthly meet,
nE ihta afternoon from to . o'clock I'm
he Assembly lIall. MIS-. Il ". Miller.
resident Of the club, VIII preside aud
Dr. W. y. Montgomery. Of Richmond
'oiicEc, Viii make tho address of tn.
fternoon. Following the business SEES
ion Mrs. g. T.. Guvcnator. who is chair
IAN OF tho hospitality committee will
assisted by Mrs. j. +. Stringer. Mrs.
D. r. Talman and Mrs. c. I. Yarbrough.
FAIRS OF To-day.
James Pcyntz Nelson Will give q,
uthors reading ~ the Woman's Club
ais afternoon AT 400 o'clock Mrs. +
ithu' LEROY is chairman of the after
o'n and viii present the speaker To his
udionce MI Nelson Is Virginan
md \,
writer or short and humorous
1aracteT sketches Tea Will be served
= blowing the conclusion OF Mr. Mel
ms reading.
Miss Hattie Bcil Gresham will meet
or story Class this afternoon at i
clock nj tho Art Club of Richmond 5ol
est Grace street
. Mrs. r. Henry lIarwood. Miss Mary
rect and Miss Virginia Christian will
t rs hostcsscs for this afternoon Mt
e indoor golf tea held in the palm
arden of the jefferson Hotel
tsitinE 1Iiss Sims.
Miss Ellie wood Rage OF Charlottcs
lie; Miss Virginia Robertson, OF Dan.
lie. and Miss Patio Northrub,- of Will
ngton, y. G., arc visiting Miss Light
OF Sims TO her home Mt the Mount
iyal In Baltimore Miss Sims has bncn
ich entertained In Richmond this win
{. having visited here several times as
G guest of Miss Carter Ingram
,tronc.scN for Concert.
Flle following is :hc recently complet
list OF prominent society women who
VI act as patroneSses for the song re-
al at the Young Womcn's Christian
ISOLATION on the evening OF March IL:
fsda,ncs Caskic Cabcll. William II
oinas. Arthur NJ. Cannon. Allan Lyon.
aries Robins. Mallory, St George
van. Fred W. Scott, Thomas Adkins.
Aston Cabell, Douglas Wonder IIoor
Sc Fauntleroy. John A. Coke, Frank
Williams, Henry baskerville. c. OBJ.
Whrhin, william Il. Pizzini. Charles
Whitlock, Janney. Leon Wallcrstcin
scott Parrish. T.. \. Saunders Jr. W
oppcnhimer, George AinsIie ~
pnias Emmett, II. J.. Winslow. Fillmore
'tchkiss, j. j. liickol<, George Allen,
tginin RlRnkenship. William a. Shcp
ID, William Palmer, Austin Martcn.
hn, Randolph Wexford, Otwav s
en-, Il. j.. Barnes. w. G. Miller, John
Potts, Willie Tanner, f. o. WIllIs.
ynt.ft Tp.ft