the quivering back of Uncle Tom. One human being nailed to a cross
reveals the concentrated woes of earth; and as we gaze upon the picture,
into our hard hearts there comes creeping a desire to lessen the sorrows
of the world by an increased love; and a gentleness and sympathy are ours
such as we have never before known.

Fortuny is king of the modern school of Spanish painters. His genius made
an epoch, and worked a revolution in the art of his country--and, some
have said, in the art of the time.

As a nation it may be that Spain is crumbling into dust, but her rotting
ruins will yet fertilize many a bank of violets. Certain it is that no
modern art surpasses the art of Spain; and for once Italy must go to
Spain for her pattern.

ARY SCHEFFER

The artistic tastes of the Princess, the lofty range of her
understanding, her liberality, and the sterling benevolence of
her mind all combined to engender a coldness and lack of sympathy
between herself and the persons composing the Court.

In the heart of the Princess dwelt a deep religious faith, such
as becomes a noble, womanly heart. Nevertheless, her ardent mind
sought to penetrate every mystery, so she was often accused of
being a doubter--when the reverse was really true.

--_Ary Scheffer to His Brother Arnola_

[Illustration: ARY SCHEFFER]

The artistic evolution of Ary Scheffer was brought about mainly through
the influence of three women. In the love of these women he was bathed,
nourished and refreshed; their approbation gave direction to his efforts;
for them he lived and worked; while a fourth woman, by her inability to
comprehend the necessities of such a genius, clipped his wings, so that
he fell to earth and his feet mired in the clay.

The first factor in the evolution of Scheffer, in point of both time and
importance, was his mother. She was the flint upon which he tried his
steel: his teacher, adviser, critic, friend. She was a singularly strong
and capable woman, seemingly slight and fragile, but with a deal of
whipcord, sinewy strength in both her physical and mental fiber.

No one can study the lives of eminent artists without being impressed
with the fact that the artist is essentially the child of his mother. The
sympathy demanded to hold a clear, mental conception--the imagination
that sees the whole, even when the first straight line is made--is the
gift of mother to son. She gives him of