ff
k
6 ill
minium rj 1 i
iff - !KL 5 S S3.
in
Present day nam fens contend
present ctay painters contend
that fihrisf belongs fo no one N
period out w every ag?.
- u
BOM ffii -
3
CffRST BREAKS BREAD WITH THJS HUMBLE
BY H.LEON JLHBFM I TT.
; a$fe& supreme figure on fhej
tams canvas wnn uuennvm
century men andwomen.
TJTS COMFORTER" BY BYJ1T 5K&W.
3
nt
ish.
8MB
9BBBkBBBUBBHBVcL sfl(fl9uMfe,l$ f'-r
ubbbbbuuu1
Hi
CHRIOT, the central and awe-inspiring
figure of Easter, presents a different
conception to artists of today than to
their precursors of bygone centuries.
In picturing ail tho scenes of the life of
the Nazarene, contemporaneous painters
have lately developed a new thought. They
.strive to show tho Redeemer in current
day surrroundings, following the idea if
Christ were with us today.
No longer do they limit him in the
environment of .3000 years ago. surround
ed by the dress of tho ancient period
when men wore robes instead of coats
and trousers. Now while preserving the
Christ ilguro as It has always been pic
tured in all the simplicity of the long,
spotless white robe, the long hair and the
red beard, they put him among men and
women in modern dress, evening clothes,
decoljcte gowns and top hats.
To some this has seemed almost sacre
liglous. at least shockingly bad taste, but
tho artists arc noted and. In earnest, and
give a reason that "not only divests them
of tho least intention of showing a lack
of respect to the risen lord, but, also
gives a strong presumption that they are
right, that their pictures create a greater
depth of feeling and point a stronger
moral lesson to 2dth century people than
the works of tho artists of old.
Belongs to Xo Period.
The champions of the .new idea 1n- picturing-
the Man of Sorrows -contend . that
be belongs to o period, that he belongs
to this age as much as any other, that
he is a great idea, whose influence Js
destined, to affect all men while earth
endures. Heace while picturing him. it Is
right to present Christria such form that
will make the strongest appeal to raea of
today.
, Jean Beraud. a French artist of Indis
putable rank, -was the first to Introduce
the new idea. He painted "Christ Seand
to the Pillar." a theme that has oft been
treated by the great painters ef time.
But Beraud presented 1x4s thought, that
fca feettags ef the Nu&reae were' as
much lacerated by the indifference, the
eclflshness, the crimes of men of today,
as by the whips and scourges of those
who tortured him in the flesh. So he
surrounds the Christ figure with raen in
all paths of modern life, politicians, finan
ciers, artists, socialists, reformers and
even a Free Mason.
This picture created a sensation, was
bitterly assailed, but the tempest It pro
voked was but as a Summer x-ephyr com
pared to the outbreak when he presented
one of the most revolutionary canvases
of modern times, his religious 'picture,
"Magdalen in the Home of a Partelan."
This did not have for Its background
any of tho familiar scenes of Bible his
tory. The feast was spread in the house
of a wealthy man of the world, a French
aristocrat. Around him were men -of let
ters, statesmen, financiers, alt that is
wealthiest, wisest and wittiest In modern
civilization. The dinner had ended, tho
gueta were sipping the coffee, while the
flash of brilliant conversation flew
around the table.
One of the guests Is just about light
ing a cigarette when Christ enters.
A superbly dressed woman, a ParMeftne.
presumably a deml-mode. In all the glory,
beauty and charm, repeats when Christ
is revealed and falls groveling before the
feet of tier L-erd.
A picture far softer In ee Urn est thaa
those by Beraud is Byam Saawa "The
Comforter
Ib Mo&cra Shits RdlR.
The meet deveut believer ta the theory
that Christ afeeuld never be shown la
modern: surroundtngp eettM. karoMy object
to th4s canvas? far its leaeow Is one of
exeutsite gentleness.
A husband, a yettog man, drewed m
the np-te-date sub ef a prosperous bad
ness man. sets at the aide ef a bed. On
It can be seen part ef the figure ef Ms
young -w4f e. who Ss eKher Ml or dead. De
jection snows In every feature of the
ouf ferhsg feueband. His arm roots on the.
bedside of Ms beloved. Mc bead Is buried
WW
AY VN
BHHBSBHnesneH
&VBVBVflBKsnosnosr A ?t--IMsnosKnCTrfe j'anoV
BBBBBnofsnnoTSsnr -,;X, ? :iHnosMB.BnossWnettB JUtelxn.l I'jbV
nosnosnosnosnosnosnosnosnosnosnomQ4B ' P'3AKssMkBnnonnosnosnni
S -nnnoB
FRITZ VOH UKDB.
OFJi PARISIAN.
in his band. Sat beside hint tits a figure
of beautiful tenderness Christ- One band
is en the young man's shoulder, and nls
face tells a lescon oMUlmltahle sympa
thy. Vany who saw the picture when first
placed on exhibition suite naturally In
terpreted the situation as Implying that
the wife was dead, but Mr. Shaw denied
this.
'The wife Is net dead. he wrote. T
strongly object to the idea, that Christ
is to be thought of only In connection
with death. Instead of being always
with ue. It is suite possible
for a man to be fond of a good horso
and to dress decently and still have
Christ for a. friend."
A friend he Is found In yet another
picture by Shaw, "The Outcast." where
Christ is seen consoling the strong,
determined man who has just been
cursed with bell, book and candle for
falling- foul ef some bit of theological
red tape.
Tho same comforting' lesson ef
Christ's humility and deep cancers in
the affairs of his children of today is
found in a canvas by a French artist.
It is called "Christ Among tbf Lowly."
The Caster of Mea has bad few more
moving- portrayals. The Savior is shewn
in a French peasant's but sed sur
rounded by a group of deeply attentive
sad reverent peasantry, ail of whom
are in bostuntos of the present.
Here be pictured as the friend ef
the poor, the eternal oonseior of all to
-whom 4fe brings oonstant bnrden.
His cosfriog Into their mMet. his
helpful words, bria-utes their lira,
and temporarily lifts the bordoa.
A youg mother, gurreundtd by ber
obHdren. listens in rapt attention.
Sverr aee shews eenldonoe. the oMer
ones have the repeeetai leek ef belief,
wMie the cMMrea are eearJtsg
sre that" be wee Xs ooose , am ear
tstom is a friosd,
Tbo-scmo subtest seicbt bars boost
ssTsont rjli
HsmmiHs mi va iiiiiiHiiz
shows by potliag tbe. Mesoiab hi- tbe
but of seme Judoan' " peasant of tho'
Christ era, but X. Xoon IHersoltta.
tbe artist, hots rlefeUy rastsnsd ttet ist
using tbis so Vouid at sob bsmsoo
tstooo of -'tbo 'SHbl eontury -orftB, nsssrlr'
tbe same sbarpse- tbat Christ ia tkm
friend of tbe poor of today sot only
of tbe poot. '
Jf ,FmT a(asTemonmni a an
ks a,
So puts only two nevrso in 'the paint
ins; Cferiet ami tbe repentant sinnrer.
Tbor are. m a forest, where.- srklontly
ssto Mm aoao.twbido hoc aba nit. The
warn, 1'sas and' ineiaraoremtBf, Tbe Jag
dala la dressed la the- poor eostuike of
the modem weman ef .thaTKresjis-
aWttl anotber Tomowbiomodpt -pamt-iC
ic oae ka wbiobaot. Cbct, but a hv
borer, is stiewn oorryins; tlte oroes. Tbo