Evening star., 1918-03-31

~
ART By THE OWNER.
In the National Gallery of Art in the
National Museum has been placed on
exhibition as temporary loan a paint
ing of Raphael subject, no less than
the Madonna Canigiani," in the old
Pinakothek of Munich.
In all probability the painting is
copy. but SO skillfully is it executed
that there is little wonder that doubt
has arisen concerning its authenticity.
The picture is painted on canvas and
is approximately the size of the origi-
nal in the Pinakothek, the only diner-
ence to be noted being a slightly
greater breadth in the painting now in
the National Gallery, which allows
better spacing of the composition. The
Pima kothek painting appears, in repro
duction. to have been cut down at the
sacrifice of a portion of the foot of the
Virgin on the right and of the foot of
st. Elizabeth on the left.
The Pinakothek picture was. accord
ing to Vasari painted by Raphael for
1906 and is accurately described by this
famous author, who was, it will be re-
membered. one of Raphael's cotem-
poraries. as follows:
In this picture Raphael represented
the Madonna, with the Infant Christ.
The Divine Child is caressing the little
San Giovanni. who is brought to him
by ST Elizabeth. and the latter, while
holding the boy, looks with a most ami
mated countenance at St. Joseph. who
stands leaning with both hands on his
staff He bends his head toward her
with an expression of astonishment and
of praise to God. whose greatness had
bestowed this young child on a mother
already so far advanced in years. All
appear to be amazed at the manner in
which the two cousins treat each other
at an age SO tender, the one evincing
his reverence for the Savior. the
other affectfonately caressing his COM
panion. Every touch of the pencil in
the heads, hands and feet of his work
has produced such effect that the parts
seem rather to be of the living flesh
tnan the mere colors of the painter.
however able master of his art
Nasari goes on to say that at the
time of writing (some years after
Raphaefs DEATH the picture was. in
the possession of the heirs Of Domenico
Canigiani. "by whom 1t was held in
all that esteem which was due to
Raphael of Urbino.'
A foot note by the editors of the
latest and STANDARD translation, Mr.
and Mrs. E. H. Blashfeld. Identifies the
picture referred to with the one in the
old Pinakotheh. and adds that Baron
Won Wolzogen, in his Raphael Santi,"
states that there were originally in the
composition two boy angels. who were
inspector of Dusseldorf, where the pic
ture was placed for a while and by
whose order they were erased and the
space filed with gray clouds. If this
Is So. the possibility of the painting
here in the National Museum being a
replica by Raphael is completely dis
posed of. the exit of the boy angels
from the original composition occur
ring long after the'death of the painter,
But. setting aside the question of au-
no YaJnf tn
is of vast interest and opens gates
both to absorbing study and investiga-
tion, as well as opportunity for better
knowledge than could otherwise be
obtained of the work of the great
master.
1t is a beautiful composition ex-
auisitely painted and most lovely in
color, An tia ian landscape of very
charming character forms the back
ground for the pyramidal group of
figures. Every detail is marvelously
rendered. Like. embroidery on the
neck of the Virgins dress. in gold let
ters. is the name OF the painter,
Raphael Urbinas.
According to Vasari. this painting
was executed in Florence. but. in re-
ferring to reoroductions of RaphaePs
other works, it is found that precisely
the same mother. and child used as
models for the Virgin and Christ Child
appear in the painting of the well
known Orleans Madonna" in the Chan
tilly Museum. supposedly painted in
Urbino in the same year. But they also
Goldfnch." painted in Florence during
the same period. The old woman who
served as the model for st. Elizabeth
appears second time in precisely the
same attituda in the madonna del1Im-
pannata" now in the Pitt Palace. Flor
ence. PARTED eight wears later.
The painting now in the National
Museum is in extremely good condition.
the paint having only peeled off the
lower margin and but a single hole oc-
curing. and that in an unimportant
section OF the painting. The copyist
whoever he may have been. was without
doubt an accomplished artist, craftsman
and colorist, and a technician of the
first order.
The painting was purchased in Munich
about eishty-fiye years ago by a wealthy
bachelor of Baltimore, and has been in
the family of the purchasers nephew
in modest Baltimore home ever since.
x ::
When Henry w. Ranger, the well
in November 1916, it was found that
he had left his entire estate. valued at
over 100000, in trust to the National
Academy of Design. the principal to be
kept invested and the income to be spent
Dy IHc cOuucll Ol the Ndt1OHdl SACdueny
of Design in purchasing paintings pro-
duced by American artists. Mr.. Ranger
stipulated that two-:hirds of such pur-
chases should. be of works by artists
fofty-five years of age and over. He
further directed that all pictures so pur-
chased were to be given by the council
TO art institutions in America. or to
libraries or other Institutions maintain
ing gallery open to the public, upon
the express condition. however that the
National! Gallery at Washington should
have the option and right without cost
to claim any picture for the national col
lection within period of FIVE years, be-
ginning ten years after the artists
death.
Up to the present time no purchases
have been made, owing to the fact that
a relative of Mr.. Rangers endeavored to
break the will. a long litigation result
ing. The case has, In fact. quite re-
markable history, A second will was
presented. duly signed and executed. but
after careful investigation proved false
hA AARfGtnn