El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-03-05
Noted Paintings by Famous Artists:
MuriIo'S Immaculate Conception

EeIas1uez. the brilliant court paInler.
This artist realized at once Aurlilo
genius and advised him 20 remain a
while ia Madrid He was given the
privilege OF studying original works
OF Van Dyck and Rubens, which we're
in the royal palaces. He was so sue
cessful that after three years he gave
Up all thought OF going % italy ana
returned TO his home at Seville. Ilis
city was IN those days one OF the
great world centers Of art. related
70 Spain as Florence had Deem -
Italy. Murillo now set % work %
devote the rest OF his life 10 paint
ings- His compositions we're Qe-
mauded By churches and monasterie9s
and soon the poor boy VINO was IN
known in the city three years be-
fore. became the acknowledged head
OF the Sevillan school
Leading families OF the city show
cred attentions upon him and 20
helped him 10 gain high social po-
sition. BY the time he was 80 he
was wealthy and prominent He mar
ried into a noble family and with
the wealth o. his wife and his own.
his future was secured Tradition
says he first saw his wife while
working on an altar piece in a church
The artist won her love by portray
eng her as an angel IN that picture
Their villa became the resort FOR the
best society % Seville. and was IA
nous for It's hospitality TO the local
artists
Mystery His FaForite Subject.
The mystery OF the Immaculate
Conception was Murillo's fayorlte
subject. He exhibited such charm
and grace IN these representations
that he became known as The
Painter OF Conception" HIS most IA
nous Conception and world picture
was originally painted for the hos
pital OF the Nenerables OF seville.
but Il has long ago been moved to
the salon CARR. in the Louvre. This
composition, lOeVliest OF al his con-
ceptions, represents the virgin as
floating in mid air as ir she were a
vision Il IS a full length figure
resting on crescent moo1 sur
rounded BY beautiful cnerubs- A
golden light o. over her, and her
mantle which is gracefully draped.
Is blue, and her robe IS white. She
looks heavenWard. 10 is a beautiful
young face. sortened by the mass Of
hair that falls about Il % her shoul-
ders.
lIurillo was a pious man and IA re-
llgious subjects his heart was IN his
work. He painted them 81 a misty
style. with vague outlines and with
warm, rich colors- He had keen
love OF beauty and grace The seuti-
meut he painted into his pictures
the people. When this picture Of
the Immaculate Conception was eX-
hibited il created much enthusiasm
King Charles II invited Murillo 70 en-
ter the royal service, but the artist
was retiring and so refused. II IS
evident from this that the artist vas
Independent enough financially to be
able 70 refuse q royal invitation, al
though he received only a few hun
dred dollars Tor his greatest pictures
But in that age and country such
sums would 90 as Tar as thousands
would now.
Home Ideally Located.
His beautiful home was Ideally To-
Gated. and Aurillo himself was a.
beautiful IN character as were his
surroundings. The most prominent
trait OF his character was bis even
and sweet disposition, a rare thing in
great artists He was never boast
ful, always taetfuL and had the power
OF influencing his fellow men Al
though he was the most pious OF men,
spending hours in daily prayer. and
had an amiable and gentle manner
yet he had quick fits OF temper. and
was impulsives as was natural 70 his
oriental blood.
lIuriIIo had early come into fame
and he remained IN high esteem the
rest OF his life No Spanish painter
was better known abroad. and even
II Dis NE time DIS pictures We're
known in England the Netherlands
and in Italy. When his works
reached the latter country. the Ital-
ian artists were astonisred at their
excellence. for they had long looked
down on Spanish art as inferior. but
with the coming OF Murilio, they were
forced 10 recognize its worth.
Lived a PiouH Life.
During the last wears OF the artists
life he became even more piOus. eand
he was accustomed to remain il the
church often from mid lay until tEi-
light. lost in dsFout reveries, and
FORGETTING the outer world and its
toiling activities. He had always
been eminent for his charities and lih-
eral bounty % the poor and when
he died. ali the money which he pos
sessed was 20 crowns. he lived as
he painted between saints and beg
CARS. and transferred the riches
which he received on account Of the
one 10 the aid and uplifting OF the
other. The inscription on bis tomb
was TIE key note OF his life, Live as
one who Is about 10 die"