Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-25

Lord which on this day we are cele'
brating. There was no theme which
the early Italian painters so loved.
and none which they depicted more
feelingly. more exQuisitely.
Who has visited Florence and has
not stood in reverent admiration be.
fore Ghirlandajo's quaint and ex'
Quisite picture OF the nativity. with
its interesting landscape background,
its long procession of reverent wor-
shippers? How long this early painter
must have labored over the painting
OF this picture; how he must have
studied every detail, how lovingly 1t
is rendered. Many years later Cor
reggie painted his now famous picture
Of the nativity. the Christ Child in the
cave.like stable radiating holy light.
And think of the countless madonnas
that were painted by those of the
primitive school in Italy, in Holland,
in Belgium. in Germany, in every
land to which Christianity had spread.
To be sure. many times they were
pictures Of cotemporary, most often
peasant women, but they stood for
universal motherhood. they commem-
GRATED the coming OF the Christ Child.
Nor were such representations lin.
tied to the field OF painting. The sub.
ject was dear TO the hearts OF the
sculptors of the same era. What,
indeed, are Della Rohia's hambinos
on the facade OF the founding insti-
tute Of Florence but representation
OF the little Child born in Bethlehem.
wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in
a manager? Even better than the
painters of his time, Della Robbia pre-
scented this great event, an event
which every time we date a letter
today we personally, though uncon.
sciously, commemorate. Della Rob-
bias madonnas in faience are beau.
tifully modelled, are exceedingly spir-
itual, and at the same time intensely
human. The infants of his PLAQUES
are not as those Of many OF the paint.
ings Of that day, bit misshapen, not
always childish or lovely, but as near
as the sculptor was able he presented
to us for all time a holy and beauti-
full child, the supreme type Of limo.
cency, OF infancy.
How beautiful and universally be-
loved are Raphael's Madonnas, the
magnificent Sistine Madonna Of
Dresden, the much-copied Madonna of
the Chair in Florence: how even more
spiritual. more uplifting are the Ma
donnas of Botticelli. Surely in inter-
preting this theme these painters rose
10 their greatest height.
There have been painters since who
have essayed the same subject. but
comparatively few have produced
works of supreme importance, works
IN which great art has found express
sion through naive simplicity. Per-
haps the reason is that there Is little
or no naive simplicity left in the
world; perhaps our own times are not
ccngenial for such expression. How
unfortunate IL this is so. And yet
every now and then there comes from
the Jostling crowd an artist so great
that he is enabled amid the tumult of
modern life to attain within himself
that calm from which great art
springs. John La Farge's painting Of
the Ascension over the altar in the
Church of the Ascension, New York,
Is comparable with the greatest re-
Egtous paintings Of the Old World.
Some OF our designers Of stained glass
today are following in his footsteps.
The church at the time of Ghirlan.
dajo, Correggio, Raphael, not only
fostered art but gave the painters OPP
portunity for expression, and genius
responded. as IL always win, not
merely TO demand. but to the fulfill.
ment Of the faith OF the people.
Doubtless such genius is to be found
today among our young men and
young women, and to the call when II
comes they too VIII respond with
equal fervor.
The Christmas theme II one which
viii never grow old: II has a meaning
for all time and for all people.
THE Art Institute Of Chicago is
essentially a peoples institution.
Therein many organizations hold their
meetings: through Its doors pass all
sorts and conditions OF men, women
and children. 1t is for the service
Of the people OF Chicago. and they
are made welcome. Especially is this
welcome extended 10 the children. for
whose benefit at this particular time
Christmas exhibition il being held.
This exhibition In set forth in the
chiidren's room and comprises va
riety Of paintings. drawings and scuIp-
lures relating 10 the Nativity. Ana
wonder Of wonders) all done by chill.
dren Of the juvenile department OF
the institutes Saturday school.
II 10 said that one Of the most
striking and beautiful pieces done by
the children OF the high school grade
IL an imitation stained glass window
which has been installed on the east
wall. II is made OF parchment. with
the large center panel showing the
Holy Family, and with Is square
pa nels showing scenes relating TO the
Nativity. II is boxed in. with hight
shining through. making the rich
color Of the parchment appear quite
like stained glass.
Yesterday afternoon about 70 cf:n'
dKen sang Christmas carols at che
head Of the grand staircase at the
Art Institute. These children were
under the direction Of Felix isafow.k
OF the Civic Music Association OF Chi
tago and were gathered from the
VARIOUS schools and field centers or
that city. Thus IL will he seen that
The Art Institute Of Chicago has con.
1x40slted 10 the children's celebration
VI Christmas.
T CRADo TAFT. the sculptor.
- member Of our National Art
Commission and adviser In the de-
paFtment Of sculpture al the Corcoran
SlLsol VI Art. las lately presented 10
tabe ciliicren's Museum III the Art In
stitu1s of his home city, Chicago,
beautiful and unique model represent
ing q scene IN Florence In the cary
fifteenth century, "A scene closely re-
lated 10 the art ~ the period, 10 the
t5fHeloppent ~ the art ~ sculpture.
announcement has been made that "a
fisw EFT II broBze doors VIII be or
Gered for the 10 piistf" al FlDfencs IN
syHnnenofatiDn ~ the cessation III
aiye plague. the permanent expression
0f the graiitUde ~ the people. BE-
fore Andrea Fissno'E dDots, which
were put ia pIacs some 70 years ear
aAsr. d group ~ Italian sc1IpioTs Is
gathered each pfopDsing ~ enter The
sDfL petition, each examining the ciH
anork with the jnea Of making new