There, no doubt, Pope Eugenius sat
with the pictured glory over him; there
Savonarola presided over his followers,
and encouraged himself and them with
revelations and prophecy.
If we may
venture to interpose among such historic
memories a scene of loftiest fiction, more
vivid than history-there the Prior of
San Marco received the noble Floren-
tine woman, Romola. The picture sur-
vives everything long ages of peace,
brief storms of violence in which mo-
ments count for years; and again the
silent ages-quiet, tranquillity, monot-
ony, tedium. Jerome and Augustine,
Francis and Dominic, with faces more
real than our own, have carried on a per-
petual adoration ever since, and never
drooped or failed.

--

representing anything that could satisfy | hold their place there in compliment to the mind as God in the aspect of full- the Medici the monks of San Marco grown man, has helped more than any- have deliberated for four centuries. thing else to give to the group of the Mother and the Child such universal acceptance in the realms of art-a pictorial necessity thus lending its aid in the fixing of dogma, and still more in the unanimous involuntary bias given to devotion. The Christ-child has proved within the powers of many painters; for, indeed, there is something of the infinite in every child-unfathomable possibilities, the boundless charm of the unrealiized, in which everything may be, while yet nothing certainly is. But who has ever painted the Christ-man? unless we may take the pathetic shadow of that sorrowful head in Leonardo's ruined Cenacolothe very imperfection of which helps us to see a certain burdened divinity in its melancholy lines for success. Sorely burdened indeed, and sad to death, is that countenance, which is the only one we can think of which bears anything of the dignity of Godhead in the looks of man; but it is very different from the beautiful, weak, fatigued young countryman who is so often presented to us as the very effigy of Him who is the King and Saviour of humanity, as well as the Lamb of God.

The new dormitory, which Cosmo, the father of his country, and his architect, Michelozzi, built for the monks, does not seem originally to have been of the character which we usually assign to a convent. It was one large room, like a ward in a hospital-like the long chamber in Eton College - with a row of small arched windows on either side, each of which apparently gave a little light and a limited span of space to the monk whose bed flanked the window. To decorate this large, bare room seems to have been the Angelical painter's next grand piece of work. Other hands besides his were engaged upon it. His brother, Fra Benedetto, took some of the subjects in hand -subjects, alas, passed by now by the spectator, who takes but little interest in Benedetto's renderings. How pleas

Angelico never, or very rarely, got beyond this gentle ideal of suffering innocence, enduring with unalterable patience. Perhaps in his "Scourging" there may be a gleam of higher meaning, or in that crowned figure which crowns the humble mother; but the type is always the same. It is curious to note how this incapacity works. In the great picture in the chapter-house of San Marco, which opens from this cloister, and is the most important single work in the convent, the spec-ant is the imagination thus conjured up! tator merely glances at the figure on the The bustling pleased community settling cross, which ought to be the centre of the itself in its new house, arranging its picture. It really counts for nothing in homely crucifixes, its few books, its the composition. The attendant saints tables for work, parchments and ink and are wonderfully noble, and full of varied colours for its illuminated manuscripts, expression; but the great act which at- great branch of monkish industry; here tracts their gaze is little more than a con- an active brother leaving a little room in ventional emblem of that event; the the beehive, going out upon the business Virgin, it is true, swoons at the foot of of the convent, aiding or watching the the cross, but the spectator sees no rea-workmen outside; here a homely Fra son except a historical one for her swoon, Predicatore meditating in his corner, for the cross itself is faint and secondary, with what quiet was possible, his sermon curiously behind the level of Ambrose, for next fast or festa; there, bending and Augustine, and Francis, who look up over their work with fine brush and carewith faces full of life at that mysterious ful eye, the illuminators, the writers, abstraction. Underneath that solemn elaborating their perfect manuscript; assembly of fathers and founders for and all the while tempting many a almost all are heads of orders, except the glance, many a criticism, many a whisMedical saints Cosmo and Damian, who pered communication the picture going

on, in which one special brother or other pleasure must have stolen through the must have taken a lively, jealous interest, brotherhood, what pleasant excitement, seeing it was his special corner which what critical discussions, fine taste, enwas being thus illustrated! One won- lightened and superior, against simple ders if the monks were jealous on whose enthusiasm! It is almost impossible not bit of wall Benedetto worked instead of to fear that there must have been some Giovanni - or whether there might be a conflict of feeling between the brother party in the convent who considered who had but a saintly Annunciation, too Giovanni an over-rated brother, and be- like the public and common property of lieved Benedetto to have quite as good a that picture called the "Capo le Scale" right to the title of "Angelico'? For and him who was blest with the more their own sakes let us hope it was so, striking subject of the "Scourging," so and that good Fra Benedetto painted quaint and fine; or him who proudly felt for his own set; while at the same time himself the possessor of that picturesque there can be little doubt that the differ- glimpse into the invisible—the opened ence between him and his brother would gates of Limbo, with the father of manbe much less strongly marked then than kind pressing to the Saviour's feet. now. Thus all together the community Happy monks, busy and peaceable! half carried on its existence. Perhaps a hu- of them no doubt at heart believed that morous recollection of the hum which his own beautiful page, decked by many must have reached him as he stood paint- a gorgeous king and golden saint, would ing on his little scaffolding, induced the last as long as the picture; and so they painter to plan that warning figure of the have done, as you may see in the glassmartyred Peter over the doorway below, cases in the library, where all those lovely serious, with finger on his lip; for it chorales and books of prayer are precould scarcely be in human nature that served; but not like Angelico. There is all those friars with consciences void of one glory of the sun, and another glory offence, approved of by Pope and people of the stars. a new house built for them, warm with It does not seem to be known at what the light of princely favour; and the sun- time this large dormitory was divided, as shine shining in through all those arched we see it now, in a manner which still windows, throwing patches of brightness more closely recalls to us the boys' rooms over the new-laid tiles and the Floren-in a good "house" in Eton, into separate tine air, gay with summer, making merry cells. No doubt it is more dignified, like ethereal wine their Tuscan souls - more conventual, more likely to have proshould have kept silence like melancholy moted the serious quiet which ought to Trappists of a later degenerate age. To belong to monastic life; but one cannot be a monk in those days was to be a help feeling that here and there a friendbusy, well-occupied, and useful man, in ly, simple-minded brother must have reno way shut out from nature. I should gretted the change. Each cell has its like to have stepped into that long room own little secluded window, deep in the when the bell called them all forth to wall, its own patch of sunshine, its own chapel, and noted where Angelico put picture. There is no fireplace, or other down his brush, how the scribe paused means of warming the little chamber bein the midst of a letter, and the illumi- tween its thick walls; but no doubt then, nator in a gorgeous golden drapery, and as now, the monks had their scaldinos the preacher with a sentence half ended full of wood embers, the poor Italian's -and nothing but the patches of sun- immemorial way of warming himself. shine, and the idle tools held possession And between the window and the wall, of the place. No thought then of thun- on the left side, is the picture dim— ders which should shake all Florence, of often but dimly seen, faded out of its prophecies and prophets; nothing but past glory-sometimes less like a picgentle industry, calm work — that calm-ture at all than some celestial shadow on est work which leaves the artist so much the grey old wall, some sweet phantastime for gentle musing, for growth of magoria of lovely things that have passed skill, poetic thoughtfulness. And when the scaffolding was removed, and another and another picture fully disclosed in delicate sweet freshness of colour-soft fair faces looking out of the blank wall, clothing them with good company, with solace and protection what a flutter of

66

there, and cannot be quite effaced from the very stones that once saw them. For my own part, I turn from all Angelico's more perfect efforts, from the Madonna della Stella," glistening in gold, which is so dear to the traveller, and all the wellpreserved examples with their glittering

backgrounds, to those heavenly shadows retirement was essential; and when that in the empty cells - scratched, defaced, long-headed and far-seeing father of his and faded as so many of them are. The country had been taken, no doubt with gentle old monk comes near to the mod- an admiring following of monks, to see ern spectator, the pilgrim who has the last new picture, as one after another crossed hills and seas to see all that is was completed, and had given his opinleft of what was done in such a broad ion and the praise which was expected of and spontaneous flood of inspiration. him, no doubt both painter and prince Those saints, with their devout looks, the were glad of the quiet retirement where musing Virgin, the rapt Dominic; those they could talk over what remained to do, sweet spectator angels, so tenderly cu- and plan perhaps a greater work here and rious, sympathetic, wistful, serviceable; there the throned Madonna in the corthose lovely soft embodiments of woman-ridor, with again the Medician saints, ly humbleness, yet exultation, the Celes- holy physicians, Cosmo and Damian, at tial Mother bending to receive her crown. her feet or discuss the hopeful pupils They are not pictures, but visions painted whom Angelico was training, Benozzo on the dim conscious air not by vulgar Gozzoli, for instance, thereafter known to colour and pencil, but by prayers and fame. gentle thoughts.

All is peaceful, tranquil, softly meloThere are two other separate cells in dious in this beginning of the conventual San Marco more important than these, existence. Pope Eugenius himself came, yet closely belonging to this same early at the instance of the Pater Patriæ, to and peaceful chapter of the convent's consecrate the new-built house, and lived story. We do not speak of the line of in these very rooms, to the glory and little chambers each blazoned with a pride of the community. Thus everycopy of the crucifix below in the cloister thing set out in an ideal circle of goodwith the kneeling St. Dominic, which are ness and graciousness; a majestic Pope, called the cells of the Giovinati or Nov- humble enough to dwell in the very cloisices, and which conclude in the sacred ter with the Dominicans, blessing their spot where Savonarola's great existence home for them; a wise prince coming on passed. That is a totally different period frequent visits, half living among them, of the tale, requiring different treatment, with a cell called by his name where he and calling forth other emotions. We do might talk with his monkish friends; a not look that way in this preliminary great painter working lowly and busy sketch, but rather turn to the other hand among the humblest of the brethren, where Saint Antonino lived as Arch- taking no state upon him- though a bishop, and where still some relics of great painter was as a prince in art-lovhim remain, glorious vestments of clothing Florence; and when the time to give of gold beside the hair shirt, instrument San Marco the highest of honours came, of deepest mortification; and to the lit- another brother taken from among them tle chamber which it is reported Cosmo to be Archbishop of the great city; de Medici built for himself, and where while all the time those pictures, for he came when he wished to discourse which princes would have striven, grew in quiet with the Archbishop, whose shrewd, acute, and somewhat humourous countenance looks down upon us from the wall. This chamber is adorned with one of Angelico's finest works, "The Adoration of the Magi," a noble The way in which Antonino came to composition, and has besides in a niche be Archbishop is very characteristic, too. a pathetic Christ painted over a little At the period of his visit, no doubt, Pope altar sunk in the deep wall. Here Cos- Eugenius learned to know Angelico, and mo came to consult with his Archbishop to admire the works which he must have (the best, they say, that Florence had then seen growing under the master's hand; had), and, in earlier days, to talk to his nor could he have failed to know the deAngelical painter as the works went on, votion of which those pictures were the which Cosmo was wise to see would expressive language, the intense celesthrow some gleam of fame upon him- tial piety of the modest Frate. Accordself as well as on the convent. With all ingly, when the Pope went back to Rome the monks together in the long room he called the Angelical painter to him to where Angelico painted his frescoes it execute some work there, and with the may well be imagined that this place of primitive certainty of his age that excel

at each monk's bedhead, his dear especial property, gladdening his eyes and watching over his slumbers. Was there ever a more genial, peaceful beginning, a more prosperous, pleasant house?

lence in one thing must mean excellence Few people are equally interested in the in all, offered to Fra Giovanni the vacant two spirits which dwell within the empty see if Florence. Modest Fra Giovanni convent; to some Angelico is all its past knew that, though it was in him to paint, contains to some Savonarola; but both it was not in him to govern monks and are full of the highest meaning, and the men, to steer his way through politics one does not interfere with the other. and public questions, and rule a self- The prophet-martyr holds a distinct place opinionated race like those hard-headed from that of the painter-monk. The two Tuscans. He told the head of the Church stories are separate, one sweet and soft that this was not his vocation, but that as the "hidden brook" in the "leafy in his convent there was another Frate month of June," with the sound of which whose shoulders were equal to the bur- the poet consoles his breathless reader den. The Pope took his advice, as any after straining his nerves to awe and tercalif in story might have taken the rec-ror. Like Handel's Pastoral Symphony ommendation of a newly chosen vizier; piping under the moonlight, amid the such things were possible in primitive dewy fields, full of heavenly subdued times; and Antonino was forthwith gladness and triumph, is the prelude called out of his cell, and from simple which this gentle chapter of art and monk was made Archbishop, his charac-peace makes to the tragedy to follow. ter, there is little doubt, being well Angelico, with all his skill, prepared and enough known to give force to Angelico's made beautiful the house in which representation in his favour. This event with aims more splendid than his and a would seem to have happened in the mark more high, but not more devout or year 1445, three years after the visit of pure - another Frate was to bring art Eugenius to San Marco, and it seems and beauty to the tribunal of Christ and doubtful whether Angelico ever returned judge them, as Angelico himself, had his to Florence after his comrade's elevation painter-heart permitted him, would have to this dignity. He stayed and painted done as stoutly, rejecting the loveliness in Rome till the death of Eugenius that was against God's ways and laws then appeared a little while in Orvieto, no less than Savonarola. Their ways of where he seems to have been accompa-serving were different, their inspiration nied by his pupil Benozzo, and then re- the same.

turned to Rome to execute some com- The traditions of the Angelical paintmissions for the new Pope Nicholas. er's pious life which Vasari, the primary San Marco had been finished before this, authority on the subject, has left to us, with greater pomp and beauty than I have are very beautiful. The simple old narattempted to tell; for the great altar-rative of the first art-historian, always piece has gone out of the church, and when it is possible to be so, is laudatory, other works have fallen into decay or and finally bursts into a strain of almost have been removed, and now dwell, musical eulogy in the description of the dimmed by restoration and cleaning, in gentle Frate. "He was of simple and the academy of the Belli Arti, where it is pious manners," he tells us. "He not my business to follow them, my in-shunned the worldly in all things, and terest lying in San Marco only. At during his pure and simple life was such Rome the gentle Angelico died, having a friend to the poor that I think his soul painted to the end of his life with all the must be now in heaven. He painted infreshness of youth. He was fifty when cessantly, but never would lay his hand he came down the slopes from Fiesole, to any subject not saintly. He might singing among his brethren, to make his have had wealth, but he scorned it, and new convent beautiful; he was sixty-used to say that true riches are to be eight when he died at Rome, but with no found in contentment. He might have failing strength or skill. The Angelical ruled over many, but would not, saying painter lies not in his own San Marco, but that obedience was easier and less liable in the church of Santa Maria sopra Min-to error. He might have enjoyed dignierva at Rome; but all the same he lives ties among his brethren, and beyond. in Florence within the walls he loved, in He disdained them, affirming that he the cells be filled full of beauty and pen-sought for none other than might be consive celestial grace- and which now are sistent with a successful avoidance of dedicated to him, and hold his memory Hell and the attainment of Paradise. fresh as in a shrine; dedicated to him- Humane and sober, he lived chastely, and to one other memory as different avoiding the errors of the world, and he from his as morning is from evening. was wont to say that the pursuit of art

Thus ends the first chapter of the history of St. Mark's convent at Florence-a story without a discordant note in it, which has leit nothing behind but melodious memories and relics full of beauty. It is of this the stranger must chiefly think as he strays through the silent, empty cells, peopled only by saints and angels; until indeed he turns a corner of the dim corridor, and finds himself in presence of a mightier spirit. Let us leave the gentle preface in its holy calm. The historian may well pause before he begins the sterner but nobler strain.

required rest and a life of holy thoughts; dancing in a ring, into the flowery garthat he who illustrates the acts of Christ dens of Paradise-a very "Decameron should live with Christ. He was never group of holy joy, in his great "Last known to indulge in anger with his breth- Judgment" the lost fly hopeless to the ren- a great, and to my opinion all but depths of hell, ugly, distorted, without a unattainable, quality; and he never ad- redeeming feature. It was his primitive monished but with a smile. With won- way of representing evil - hideous, rederful kindness he would tell those who pulsive, as to his mind it could not but sought his work, that if they got the con- appear. He loathed ugliness as he sent of the prior he should not fail. . . . loathed vice, and what so natural as that He never retouched or altered anything they should go together? Fra Giovanni he had once finished, but left it as it had showed his impartiality by mingling turned out, the will of God being that it among his groups of the lost, here and should be so." Such is the touching pic- there, a mitred bishop and cowled monk, ture which the old biographer of painters to show that even a profession of religion has left to us. His facts it seems proba- was not infallible: but he had not the ble (or so at least Padre Marchese thinks, higher impartiality of permitting to those the living historian of the order) came huddled masses any comeliness or charm from one of the brotherhood of San Mar- of sorrow, but damned them frankly as a co, Fra Eustatius, an eminent miniaturist child does, and in his innocence knew no of the convent. These details, vague ruth. though they are, bring before us the gentle painter-peaceable, modest, kind, yet endowed with a gentle obstinacy, and limited, as is natural to a monk, within the strait horizon of his community. It is told of him that when invited to breakfast with Pope Nicholas, the simpleminded brother was uneasy not to be able to ask his prior's permission to eat meat, the prior being for him a greater authority than the Pope, in whose hand (Angelico forgot) was the primary power of all indulgences. There could not be a better instance of the soft, submissive, almost domestic narrowness of the great painter, like a child from home, to whom the licence given by a king would have no such reassuring authority as the permission of father or mother. This beautiful narrow-mindedness - for in such a case it is permissible to unite the two words told, however, on a more extend- some astonishment at the liking displayed ed scale even on his genius. The An- by the British public for the American men in whom, they say, gelical monk was as incapable of under-"humourists,". standing evil as a child. His atmosphere they find little except some common-place was innocence, holiness, and purity. To extravagance and much bad spelling. pure and holy persons he could give a With the exception of the "Heathen Chinoble and beautiful individuality; but ab-nee," which made an immense hit, and solute ugliness, grotesque and unreal, was exercised a permanent influence on puball the notion he had of the wicked. To lic opinion, they do not, we are told, genhis cloistered soul the higher mystery of uinely admire any of the comic producbeautiful evil was unknown, and his sim- tions Englishmen find so racy. ple nature ignored the many shades of prefer Mr. Lowell's serious poems, which, that pathetic side of moral downfall in sweet as they are, will scarcely live, to the which an unsuccessful struggle has pre- "Biglow Papers," which will last as long ceded destruction. He had no pity for, as their dialect remains intelligible; because he had no knowledge of, no more scarcely estimate Leland at English valuthan a child, the agony of failure, or those ation, wonder at the fuss made about faint tints of difference which sometimes Mark Twain, and hold Artemus Ward to As the separate the victors from the vanquished. have been a low comedian. While the fair circle of the saved glide, Americans are, in their way, more hu

From The Spectator. "JOSH BILLINGS" IN ENGLISH. EDUCATED Americans often express

They