South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-10-16
ART DEPARTMENT
SEES N. D. GROUP
Magnificent Pictures at UNI
verSity Studied by Club
Women.

Notre Danes superb collection Of
art was made the subject of an alb
sorbing afternoon Monday to the
members of the art department OF
the Mishawaka Woman's club who
went 70 the university. Under the
able guidance of Prof. John WOr-
/ den Of the school. more than rs
women viewed the various groups OF
paintings. Prof. Worden delivered
an informal lecture on ancient and
modern art as seen in the religious
type of painting. almost the only
study appearing at the university.
Chief among the men mentioned
was Gregori, a painter little known
outside of religious circles. Near
Ily all of Notre Danes mural
work and the magnificent stations
/ in the church as well as the por-
+ traits OF the schools founder and its
many professors. were done by
Gregori. His art is Of a type very
suggestive of Rembrandt, though he
/ is a modern.
Appreciation Was Slow.
| Like so many artists. Gregori was
bitterly disappointed in the response
TO his art. Appreciation was slow
in coming and indeed. comparatively
little recognition is given him today
! According 10 Prof. Worden, however
he is among the greatest of modern
/ painters, and his original methods
should have placed him among the
| foremost. Unlike so many. he did
/ not borrow from the Italians or the
| French for his manner Of rendering
| his subjects. They are more nearly
| true TO his own conceptions, and he
| shows us a different Christ from that
so frequently pictured according to
the Jewish or Italian conception.
The minuteness OF his attention TO
detail is clearly illustrated in the
murals depicting the life of Column
bus which appear in the main corri-
dor OF the administration building
/ His coloring is also particularly hap
py as he secured a harmony not COM
mon among the modern painters. I'm
/ fortunately, the lack of space has
prevented the correct hanging of
most of the paintings, so that the
/ effect does not do justice TO the quail
! ity of the pictures.
Returns to Italy.
Gregori came to Notre Dame first
| 70 teach and remained several years.
! His hopes were evidently high upon
his arrival, but subsequent develop
ments greatly disappointing him, he
returned 70 Italy where he died. The
most important of his pupils and the
one whose name appears most fire.
quently among the pictures at the
university, was Paul Wood, whose
talents raised great expectations in
the mind of his master. He was
killed, however. before the oppor-
tunity came to really test his abili-
ties, since most OF the canvases at
! tributed to him bear the unmistak-
able stamp OF his masters genius.
There are among the paintings in
the corridors of the new library
buildings. canvases from the brushes
OF numerous artists. all of the mod
ern school Many are from the
French. some from the italian and
not a few of them are merely medi-
OGRE ntl z are nONGNcIs Il NUN Der
that show genuine greatness. All are
OF the dignitaries OF NOtre Dame.
Dante Collection.
In the Dante collection contribut-
ed by the Rev. J. A. Zahn OF Wash
ington. D. c., famous biological
writer and divine and the compan-
ion OF Roosevelt on his African trip,
are seen some superb old canvases,
few Of which can be definitely traced.
The group also includes "A great
many ancient volumes and some ex-
quisite ivory bust carvings of Dante
and Beatrice, as well as several re-
markable studies in bronze. The col
lection is an exceptionally rare one,
many parts of II having been secured
by DR.. Zahn at great expense from
the remotest parts of the old world
In one of the main galleries ap-
pears what Is considered GregorIs
masterpiece, a really magnificent
painting OF the Nativity. There are
also two portraits Of the artists
daughter. reproduced from the min
iature, which are far superior TO
many OF the older and better known |
works OF art
IN this collection also. are several |
so-called masterpieces from the an
clients which are all too obviously !