iose, the least of a _genre_ picture of all
Carpaccio's creations, although he does make Simeon into a pontiff with
attendant cardinals bearing his train. One of his last works is the S.
Vitale over the high altar of the church of that name, where we forgive
the wooden appearance of the horse which the saint rides for the sake of
the simple dignity of the rider and the airy effect given by the balcony
overhead. Nor must we forget that study of the "Two Courtesans" in the
Museo Civico, full of the sarcasm of a deep realism. It conveys to us
the matter-of-fact monotony of the long, hot days, and the women and the
animals with which they are beguiling their idle hours are painted with
the greatest intelligence. It carries us back to another phase of life
in Carpaccio's Venice, seen through his observant, humorous eyes, and if
there is nothing in his colour distinctive of the impending Venetian
richness, it is still arresting in its brilliant limpidity; it seems
drawn straight from the transparent canals and radiant lagoons.

We apprehend the difference at once in Bastiani and in Mansueti, who
essay the same sort of compositions. They studied grouping carefully,
and it must have seemed easy enough to paint their careful architecture
and to place citizens in costume with appropriate action in a "Miracle
of the Cross," or the "Preaching of St. Mark"; but these pictures are
dry and crowded, they give no illusion of truth, there is none of the
careless realism of Carpaccio's crowds,--of incidents taking place which
are not essential to the story, and, as in life, are only half seen, but
which have their share in producing a full and varied illusion. The
scenes want the air and depth in which Carpaccio's pictures are
enveloped. We are not stimulated and charmed, taken into the outer air
and refreshed by these heavy personages, standing in rows, painted in
hot, dry colour, and carrying no conviction in their glance and action.

PRINCIPAL WORKS

Berlin. Madonna and Saints; Consecration of Stephen.
Ferrara. Death of Virgin.
Milan. Presentation of Virgin; Marriage of Virgin; St. Stephen
disputing.
Paris. St. Stephen preaching.
Stuttgart. Martyrdom of St. Stephen.
Venice. Academy: The History of St. Ursula and the 11,000 Virgins;
Presentation in the Temple.
Museo Correr: Visitation; Two Courtesans.
S. Giorgio degli Schiavone: History of SS. George and