Evening star., 1936-12-26
By Leila MechHn.
Madonna and Child, BY Donatell,

Madonna and Child, by DOnatell0,
in the Corcordn Gallery.
"HERE is close association of
art with this particular season
Of the year, for the birth of
Christ, celebrated annually on
Christmas Day, gave to the early
painters and sculptors of Italy and
other European countries their major
and most congenial theme. Many of
the finest examples Of the art of the
Renaissance and the period directly
preceding it are representations of the
Christ Child and His Mother-the
Virgin Mary. These were produced
under commission from the church,
or generous donors, for placement in
the churches or other religious insti-
tutions. and they represented the rev.
srent faith and devotion of both the
people and the artists.
Oddly enough. each artist seems to
have developed the theme with orig
inality so that there is found great
diversity in character and style of the
countless presentations made of the
contemporary models were used, but
they were idealized, and so set forth
that they might become the subject
OF alteration Obviously the artists
were completely engrossed in their
theme and gave to its Interpretation
oil the talent they had, together with
their most accomplished craftsman
ship. And yet in each instance they
put into their work something Of
themselves, inevitably, If unconscious
ly, so that each, today, across the span
Of centuries, manifests the individual
ity of the master.
1t was a Madonna by Cimabue
which, in the latter half of the thir-
teenth century, was carried in joy
Gus procession through the streets of
Florence prior to its placement in
the church for which it was painted.
1t is for paintings of the Madonna
that Raphael. who lived two centuries
later, attained greatest fame. But
alas! No painter in recent times has
carried on in this line the great ira
dition, or added to it. We have, how
ever, the precious heritage, and so
prolific were the artists of the four
teenth, fifteenth and sixteenth CEN
turies that many of their works sur
vive. In both the Clark collection in
the Corcoran Gallery of Art and in
the Ralph Cross johnson collection in
the National Gallery of Art are very
interesting examples of paintings, by
great masters of the past, of the
Christ Child and His Mother. Also,
there Is in the Clark collection panel
in high relief by Donatello, which Is.
Of all, perhaps, most lovely.
Donatello, it will be remembered,
lived from about 1886 to 1866 and has
sance art. 1t was he who modelled the
great statue at Venice of Gattamelata,
one of the finest of all equestrian stat
ues, and also the David with helmet
and sword. His also are the pulpits
for Santa Lorenz adorned with Sing
ing Boys and the exquisite "Annuncia-
ton" in Santa Corce. He could and
did produce work which was simple,
bold and strong. but he was capable
also Of work of great refinement. The
panel in the Clark collection Is of the
latter sort. In colored stucco. it is
seasoned by age but unimpaired-as
lovely today If not lovelier than when
fresh from the masters studio. There
Is . great tenderness in the face of
the Mother; real sweetness and child
ishness in that of the Holy Child.
In this respect the Renaissance sculp-
tors outdid the painters. who in many
instances make the Child grotesque-
inhuman. But what could be more
charming than this Child or those
modelled much later by the Della Rob-
b as?
This panel is colored. The Madonna
wears a robe of blue, the Child a gar
ment Of dull red, the former a dress
of dull gold matching her nimbus
The background Is gray, and q line
OF rich blue ornaments the nodded
frame, in true Florentine style As a
work Of art one remarks the beau
tiful composition-e1e disposition Of
hands and the Child's legs and feet,
the harmony Of color and its mass
ing and above all the sensitive and
simple modelling. Here is a work of a
very great artist, inspired by his
theme, and to such an extent that he
has given 1t unending significance. The
Corcoran Gallery of Art is indeed
fortunate in its possession.
Beautiful Windows, By LdFarge,
GtUen to the National Gallery.
THE National Gallery of Art has
lately received a notable gift OF a
pair OF stained glass windows by
John La Fargo, who. as mural painter
and worker in stained glass, takes
first rank among American artists.
These panels, given by q grandson,
Henry La Fargo. have been beauti-
fully installed in one Of the smaller
rooms set aside by the National Mu-
scum for the National Gallery of Art.
They are on an inside wall. to the
right and left Of panels by the late
William Willet, on loan, with which
they admirably accord. and are light
Cd srtificially from behind.
La Fargo was born little over 100
years ago in New York, the son OF
French refugee from San Domingo.
Pate" Royal Cortissoz says, made
him an artist" but certainly before
doing 20 she endowed him richly He
vas q pupil Of William M. Hunt Of