Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-07-07
Prof.
Scott OF
Michigan
Uniiuers-
ityMakes
Some
Tests
and
Is Dis
mayed
mayed


r. ars and psychologists have revealed
the rather startling fact that pres
entday American school children are de-
plorably unfamiliar with the features of
the Saviour as represented in religious
art.
1t Is not a matter Of stupidity, for 1t is
noted that the same children instantly
recognize the features Of Charlie Chaplin.
Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and
other famed public entertainers of the day
They were also thoroughly familiar with
the features of our leading statesmen.
Professor Frederick Newton Scott OF
the University of Michigan, began these
experiments. He selected Leonardo ola
Finci's Last Supper" generally admitted
TO be the most famous religious picture in
existence, with which to make his tests.
Armed with copy Of this. he descended
upon the children Of public school in one
OF the large cities Of Michigan. He made
many Interesting observations, but far
over-shadowing all the rest in significance
was the discovery that not one OF the
children could identify the central figure
in this most famous painting as that OF
the Founder of the Christian religion. They
were equally ignorant concerning the
identity Of all the twelve Apostles shown
the picture.
The thought that the artist had repre-.
sented the tragic moment when the
Saviour declared that one Of his Apostles
would betray him did not for one instant
eptef. ihe Head OF any Of these little ones.
bp,
swers given by some OF the children are
thus reported by Professor Scott In THE
lnlander." Of Ann Arbor:
"Gn answer to the question what the
people in the picture were doing, one little
girl said that 1t was party, an opinion to
which all the rest gave their assent. Why,
then. 1t was asked. were they no, eating
their supper? To this one wise child re.
piled that they were not hungry. and an.
other that they were all through 4 third
suggested that il was because they had 10
stop to laugh at something. One eager
mite OF a girl waved quivering small
hand, and when she was given permission
to speak. said soiemnly, They have long
hair-whiCh thought about IN 10 lie
average OF contemporary artcritcsm
The brightest remark came from one Of
the boys, who said that they were all
thinking about heaven but that idea. /
suspect. was not original.
Then they were asked about particular
Apostles. Judas was pointed out and at
tention called TO his expression Most
thought he was bad man. One said that
he looked cross, another that his hair was
all mussed up. The last remark was in.
teresting, because II was once the custom
OF painters to distinguish Judas from tho
rest by giving him short, why hair.
Thomas, with his raised forefnger. was
saying, Come here Simon's elevated
palms meant This is all have and Mat
thews retracted arms Don't 20 near him
Peter, starting UP. knife in hand, was OK
claiming. Get away
Most naive Of all was an INTERPRETATION
OF st. Andrew. The Apostle. who in his
establishment holds up both hands with mo
palms outward. was supposed to be saving
i have ten fingers Finally. the ones,inn
was put, who is the central igure?' There
was no hesitation or doubt in the minds a,
those who raised their hands. and whilo
the rest solemnly nodded their heads In
approval, one tiny child lisped in awn.
struck accents, George Washington >"
Not one it should be noted, CORRECTLY
fdentihed this central figure. and NOT ono
understood the general idea Of the nicture
that II concentrated one of tho funda
mental events in the history OF the (,hris-
tian religion. val 10
1t must be borne In mind that Leonardo
da Vincfs Last Supper" shows tho rnoet
perfect example OF the traditional features