Evening star., 1941-03-16

"The Calling of the Apostles Peter
and Andrew" painted between 1903
and 1911 as part of great double
altar-piece for the Cathedral at
Slena, five panels from which have
found their way to this country, two
of them now in our National Gallery.
A splendid example of the work
of Giotto is Madonna and Child"
in the KreSS collection, the center
panel of an altar-piece, possibly
that painted for the Badia in Flor
ence. The elderly look of the Child:
the narrow, almond-shaped eyes of
the Mother, and the stiffness of
the pose, as well as other features,
recall the Byzantine, the reStric-
tions of which this early master did
much toward setting aside. There is
something very beautiful and ap-
pealing in The Entombment," by
Fra Angelica, painted toward the
close of his career. midway of the
18th century, which shows how far
he had advanced the art of painting
and how reverently and artlessly he
used his talent The scene is at
the mouth of the tomb, and the
surrounding figures, engaged in the
solemn task of putting away the
body of Christ, are bowed with
grief. On a distant hill are seen
the three crosses, two still bearing
their burden of human suffering,
while beyond stretches picturesque
landscape. Strange trees serve as
background for the tomb, and laid
neatly on towel in the foreground
are the crown of thorns, the nails
and the hammer. Purposely illus
trative, this painting is finely COM
posed and very beautifully executed.
Obviously, much of the italian
art of the 18th century was pro-
duced for churches and of an illus
trative character. The poor people
then could not read, and the stories
of both Old and New TeStaments
were told to them pictorially by the
| artists commissioned by the church
or those who wished to make do
nations. Such is the famous "Ad-
grafton of the Magi," by Botticelli,
which is one of the 10 master
pieces that Mr.. Mellon purchased
in 1887 from the Hermitage Gallery
in Leningrad. The Virgin and Child
and Joseph are seen under pavilion
with Gothic timbered roof, set in
the midst of serene Italian land
scape, while gathered about, to
right and left, are many strangers;
kneeling and standing, watching the
Wise Men from the East bestow
their gifts. Utterly different from
his "Primavera," yet partaking of
the same transparent loveliness, this
painting takes very high rank
among the greatest the world has
known. What marvellous craft. what
! sense of beauty the master had at
his command to be able to bring 1t
forth!
Extreme Naturalism.
Likewise of much distinction Is
"The Alteration of the Shepherds"
formerly in the Allendale collec-
ton. but acquired and given by Mr..
gione-a work typical of the Vene-
tian school and of the studio in
which worked Titan and Giorgione.
influenced, no doubt, by the then
aged Bellini. Here We find extreme
naturalism together with certain
richness in color and handling of
medium-but withal. still naivete
in expression, reverence for theme
and also for art as such.
The Mellon collection has the
great distinction of possessing two
of Raphaels most charming Madon-
mas, the Alba Madonna" from the
Hermitage, and the "Niccolini- Cow
per Madonna" both of which show,
perhaps to a greater extent than
| do his better known works, spiritual
ity of conception Joined with match
less skill in rendition. Surely, here
is an ideal of beauty given adequate
expression. In different vein, but
most engaging, is the little painting
of "St. George and the Dragon" by
Raphael, which was sent as a gift
to Henry VIII by Duke Guidobaldo
of Urbino, upon whom he had be-
slowed the Order of the Garter.