El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-02-22

7 Vinci and Corregri0. Yet there IS "a
difference between the two types.
Leonardo's smiles are full OF chara 81
ter, while COrreEEio's express simply
the joys OF existence. His wOmen's
hands are peculiarly beautiful. sleu-
der and living.
Influenced Italian Art.
Although COrreEgios style had
much influencsfUpOn the art of north
ern Italy, yet he did not establish a
school and he seemed to have no dis
tinguished scholars He returned TO
the little town OF his birth 20 live
quietly There have been many DIFF
ferent stories Of his poverty and dis
tress at the end. and there Is even q
melancholy German tragedy based on
his supposed misf0rtunes. but &c is
authoritatiVely known that. although
not very famous during his lifetime.
nor very rich, ne was comfortable and
contented- II was during the last
years OF his life. at the age Of 30. that
he painted his world picture santa
Note. For this wonderful work he
was but poorly recompensed- II was
sold originally for about $50 and is
worth today thousands OF dollars. The
system Of payment at Parma seems
TO have been peculiar. for IN histor-
lcai record, he is said to have sold q
picture TO a wealthy widow for S10n.
six months supply Of provisions in
addition TO two loads of wood. sew
eral measures Of wheat and fat pig
Pair OF Popular Pictures
A few years ago il would have been
difficult to tell which was the most
popular. CorreEgio's santa Notte" or
Raphaefs "Sistine Madonna" Tor both
pictures had a large number OF devo-
tees. but there has come q change in
the popular taste No longer is 90 felt
that no gentleman could be without
his theory OF LorreEgiO. The nat
ural inference is that the enthusiasm
for his works was merely lad which
had its season What first made him
popular Bereuson gives the possible
explanation that after a long appre-
citation OF epieal art a few whose word
was law. suddenly changed their
taste This change was chiefly due
to the fact that COrregCiO found an
engraver. who was an accurate trans
latOr and publisher He made faith
ful reproductions Of the artists pic
lures. thereby familiarizing the pub
lie with them At last the painter.
who was so retiring that he was hard
to know. was discovered and placed
at once -in the highest heaven" He
had n genius quite as fine as any ar
list OF his day
His First Famous Work.
His first composition TO become IA
nous was called st George" and
was painted two years before his
death Berenson further explains
this sudden popularity by the fact
that az the time health was thought
vulgar; it was fashionable TO be 81. k
j.. The ST. George IN C0rregEiO's ric-
ture, he says, was not .cousumptive,
but looked IS n he certainly had the
morphine habit. which would make
him ar once very interesting st
John is sufficiently like Antin0us
preparing for ballet 20 have reioiced
the heart OF a professor OF aesthe ticS
The only figure IN the picture that has
any health in him IS st. Guui Eniano.
and he hides in the background as
IN ashamed % being so robust" For
these literary reasons the st
reEgio. and his other pictures were
judged accordingly. The Santa
Notte" being next 20 e. came next
IN public favor. Il became the SUI
preme favorite.
This picture. an altar piece. was
painted two years before the st
George" The Nativity. being @ sub
ject so often painted, it was difficult
TO avoid the commonplace in its
treatment But according 10 the pre-
viOuslv quoted author. the painter in
terpreted the divine event from
point OF view as human and lowly- IL
was the sheer humanity Of the pic
ture that attracted so many admirers
Art never changes. but the illustra-
tive element varies from generation
to generation. so that with the grow
ing appreciation OF painting as paint
ing. most people have lost their en-
thusiasm for this picture. Yet there
will always remain the admiration OF
his clear colorinE and his great
achievements in flesh painting. IN
like most Italians Of that time. he had
love Of the fantastic. OF maeie. lie
possessed the sense OF romance and
mystery similar 20 that Of the great
English poets.