Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-05
RARE OLD PAINTING
|NPR|vATE GALLERY
PoQssin Canvas, Depicting
Destruction Of Carthage,
of Great Interest.
BY JESSIE G. BEACH.


Pictorial art knows many masters, but
throughout the ages, each century has
produced its individual master whose
genius perhaps surpassed all others Of
his time. In the fifteenth century, the
beauty and purity of which the soul is
capable was gloriously interpreted by
Fra Angelica Of the Italian school, The
sixteenth century was made famous for
all time by the majestic brush OF Leon
ardo da Vinci while the fame gf the
seventeenth century Is closely linked
with perhaps the no less. admired name
of Nicholas PouSSin, founder OF the
French historical school, of classical
painting.
Europeans Guard Canvases.
According to art records, there are
hundreds of Poussln paintings In exist
ence, all of which are today immensely
valuable. Because of the great popu-
larity of this artist, European galleries
have for centuries zealcusly retained
the greater part of his paintings, less
than a score of them, perhaps. having
found their way to America. Here and
there may be seen canvas by this old
master in an American public gallery,
but one of the rareSt. of all Poussin
paintings recently was brought to WASH
1ngton and now is in the Calusd gall
lery of private art.
This picture, Mr. Calusd explained, Is
rare In many ways. In subject 1t de-
picts the last scene of the destruction
Of Carthage by the Romans. las BIC,
after a siege of three years, an incident
of great historical and classical interest.
Carthage was. founded by Dido in the
ninth century B. c.. on gulf which Is
known today as the Gulf OF Tunis.
Through commerce, it became powerful,
and for a century disputed the Roman
supremacy in world empire. Near the
end of the three-year siege which ended
the conflict between these two great
powers, Scipio, the general in charge
Of the Roman army, was ordered TO az
tack the Carthaginian citadel. After a
battle lasting SIX days and nights the
Carhaginians asked for mercy.
Scipio Wanted Deserters.
scpio complied with the request ex-
cepting only from this favor the Roman
deserters who had gone over to the
Carthaginians-dem that they be
delivered to him. In desperation. the
Carthaginian deserters to the number
of 900, under the leadership of Hasdru-
bal, took refuge in the temple Of EScu-
lapius, near the top OF the citadel End
1t is this scene that tho brush OF PouSS1n
has so accurately reproduced on canvas
2S34 inches high by 3134 inches long,
entitled "Delenda est Carthage" Gar
thage must be destroyed.
Lending atmosphere to the paint
ing" Mr.. Calusd pointed out, lis the
statue of Esculapius in the upper left
center: it rises we'll above the heads OF
the citizens and seems to radiate kind
of majesty that blends with the dignity
of the columns and walls
Referring to the erect figure OF Sclplo
in the center of the canvas, Mr.. CAUSE
here called attention to the exactneSs
with which Poussin was capable OF tell
ing a story. "Scipio, man OF noble
and refined soul, is portrayed quite IN
accord with history as obeying the saw
age behest of war with sorrow. With
no less accuracy the mastery brush OF
the artist has depicted the savage
treatment of the Carthaginian women
as we'll as the actions of the traitor
Hasdrubal, who. in order to save MS
own life, secretly deserted his troops
and went with an olive branch in his
hand to embrace the knees OF Sclplo.
Scipio showed him to the beslegeo SOL
diers in the citadel, who, filled with
rage and denouncing Hasdrubal, set nre
to the temple"
Wife's Heroism Is Portrayed.
As the flames began to envelop the
temple beautiful woman, richly
dressed, appeared on the walls OF the
upper left-hand corner OF the citadel
leading two children. This was the
wife of Hasdrubal, who, turning to
Scipio, said: Roman, I do not invoke
Heaven to take vengeance upon you:
for you have only followed the laws OF
war" - Then to her husband she
said. "And you Hasdrubal, the un-
worthy chief of Carthage, live TO De
dragged behind the chariot OF your VIC
tor. whilst these flames will save me
and nv children from slavery"
In the opinion of Mr.. Calusd,. who TOT
MANY years has been close student OF
classical art, the genius of Poussin has
perhaps never been better shown than
in his portrayal of the sacrifice OF this
heroic woman.
I'm history, as in subject, this painting
Is of rare interest" Mr. Calusd said,
'since. SO far as known, 1t has never
been owned by or exhibited in a public
pallery-a fact which alone Is sufficient
to prove that this, one of the world
classical masterpieces, perhaps entirely
has escaped public attention. For al
most three centuries the historic canvas
has been privately owned by artists and
art lovers who, like myself, have kept 1t
for their personal pleasure and admira-
ton. The picture has never been copied
and this contributes to its interest and
value"