Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . eader.^ Here the Virgin is seated in a ^ Arnold, the well known printseller at Dresden, has lately published a verybeautiful and finished engraving of this fine picture ; the more valuable, becauseengravmgs after Francia are very rare. It was exhibited at the British Institution in 1851. 238 LEGENDS OF THE MADONNA. plain dark-blue mantle, and with a very serious, sweet ex-pression, holds the Child. The eldest of the Kings, as usual,offers a vase of gold, out of which Christ has taken a
Legends of the Madonna, as represented in the fine artsForming the third series of Sacred and legendary art . eader.^ Here the Virgin is seated in a ^ Arnold, the well known printseller at Dresden, has lately published a verybeautiful and finished engraving of this fine picture ; the more valuable, becauseengravmgs after Francia are very rare. It was exhibited at the British Institution in 1851. 238 LEGENDS OF THE MADONNA. plain dark-blue mantle, and with a very serious, sweet ex-pression, holds the Child. The eldest of the Kings, as usual,offers a vase of gold, out of which Christ has taken a piece,which he holds in his hand. The black Ethiopian king isconspicuous on the left; he stands, crowned andarrayed in gorgeous dra-pery, and, as if more fullyto mark the equality ofthe races — at least inspiritual pri vileges—histrain is borne by a whitepage. In a very rich compo-sition by Lucas van Ley-den, Herod is seen in thebackground, standing inthe balcony of his palace,and pointing out the sceneto his attendants. As anexample of the Germanstyle, I give a sketchafter a drawing by 114 Albert Durer. As we might easily imagine, the ornamental painters of theVenetian and Flemish schools delighted in this subject, whichallowed them full scope for their gorgeous colouring, and alltheir scenic and dramatic power. Here Paul Veronese revelledunreproved in Asiatic magnificence: here his brocaded robesand jewelled diadems harmonised with his subject; and hisgrand, old, bearded, Venetian senators figured, not unsuitably,as Eastern Kings. Here Rubens lavished his ermine andcrimson draperies, his vases, and ewers, and censers offlaming gold ; — here poured over his canvas the wealth ofOrmuz and of Ind. Of fifteen pictures of this subject. THE ADORATION OF THE MAGI. 239 which he painted at different times, the finest undoubtedlyis that in the Madrid Gallery. Another, also very fine,is in the collection of the Marquis of Westminster. Inboth these, the Virgin, contra
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade18, booksubjectmaryblessedvirginsaint
