The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-03-31


vt SEEMS MOST htting that as the
III Easter festival approaches ones
III thoughts should turn to the art
III galleries which contain the fam
Gus paintings portrayinR the cruci-
ftxton and resurrection OF our Savior.
For generations most of them have
hung upon the walls of museums OF
Europe and have been an inspiration
not only TO lovers of art, but to all
Oh risfians as well who have studied
and admired the conception Of the
artist and the manner in which that
conception has been portrayed on the
canvas. Whilst the paintings in these
trout,lous times may be somewhat shut
off from their accust omed visitors and
admirers, yet they are not forgotten
and a brief account Of them. breath
ing as some OF them DO, almost q d.
vine inspiration. Will help US in our
faith and In our belief that notwith-
standing the darkness that now en-.
vetopes tha world. the Christ spirit
will finally triumph and conquer ev-
erywhere and that ont Of all the blood
shed and horror of this awful war will
be evolved sure and everlasting
peace.
RubcuS.
One OF the worlds most noted
paintings showing; Christ on the Cross
is by Peter Paul Rnbens, and hangs
in o4d Ptnalothese. that treasure house
of art in Munich. II has bat the one
Ggure-the dying Christ, hanging on
the cross, The. background is dark.
the sky being almost black which
bring out more fully the real beauty
and richness Of the work The head
of Christ has fallen against the right
arm and a peaceful expression is on
the face showing that the agony has
passed. The body has sagged and the
muscles Of the arms are prominent.
Blood trickles from the nail holes in
the hands and feet, while that from
the wound in the side has dripped on
the loin cloth, which is draped in
graceful fashion. The figure is well
drawn, being a perfectly natural form
Of tail slender man of tho age of
Christ at the time OF His crucifixion.
There is no attempt at high coloy1ng
or freakish position, the whole paint
ing being grand in its simplicity. The
canvas is large and well hung, being
one of he real treasures OF this great
gallery.
Rubcns painted many pictures Of
the Christ. but this one is by far the
most striking and beautiful. He was
the chief master of the Flemish
school OF Painting. and was one of the
most versatile artists of all times. Re
ginning the study OF art early In life
he worked under many famous paint
era particularly in Venice and Rome.
He was man OF scholarly attain
merits, speaking SIX languages and
was intimately acquainted with nearly
every ruler in Europe. the ma ority of
whom gave him comm issions for pic
lures He died at Antwerp in 16ao.
Durvr.
Another great canvas showing Christ
on the Cross Is the work of Abrecht
Durer. aud like the one by Rubens
shows only the figure of the Savior
The background is an almost inky
ClONu with the tNh1Au6 SAi4Ntt shy near
the foot of the cross. and few trees
standing in the foreground. The fig
ure is stretched on the cross and there
IS no wound in the side, the only blood
showing being a few drops on the
right hand. The body has sagged
slightly and the loin cloth fiutters in
the wind. The crown of thorns is
pressed down on the head. the sweet
sad face is appraised. the eyes are
turned toward Heaven in the agony.
and tho mouth slightly opened as If
IIo was in the act of speaking. The
real beauty OF the canvas is in the face
OF Christ, and it has never been ex-
ceued in its sweet spiritueile por-
trayai.
The painting hangs in the National
Gallery at Dresden.
Durer was the most prominent
painter OF the German Renaissance