International studio (82.1925)

The artist has made a good roaring fire, too,
and painted the flames red so we shall recognize it
for what it is—a comfortable fire such as they
liked in his own Burgundy on winter nights in late
December. And we conclude that he knew as
little of all this wonder of the Christ Child as did
St. Joseph, but accepted it as it was taught with
unquestioning faith. He believed Emanuel had
come, this unnamed sculptor in Burgundy, and it
was in his heart to celebrate it as he understood
it—a human event beyond his grasp, but one to
make a man wonder, and say his prayers a little
more ardently and a little earlier on Christmas
morning.

Hanging above this sculptured group of "The
Nativity" is a much larger portrayal of the Holy
Family in a French tapestry of late 15th century
work, about 1480. It pictures "The Adoration of
the Magi," with much greater sophistication than
the naive work of the sculptor but with the same
human touch, unmistakably Gothic. Its beauti-
ful background of deep rich blue is flecked with

tiny dashes of light and varied with lighter blue in
colored effect. The delectable old rose colored
robes of the magi, the soft lovely tans and browns
of their shoes, the wonderful green of the negro's
sleeves, combine to give an inimitable color effect.
The typical 15th century Italian and French
figured velvet design of which the negro's coat is
made is a note of enrichment that unquestionably
modernized the whole scene in the day of its mak-
ing, as much as if he wore a mackintosh today.

The face of St. Joseph—a saint if there ever
was one—is finely human, his light brown coat
and old red wallet bring him delightfully into the
picture from a color angle. But the brocaded
elaboration of the Virgin's robe makes her figure
outstanding in the lighter tones of tan and cream
with light and dark blue.

The group is altogether as human as lovable:
the Virgin is absorbed, mother-like, in the child;
the kneeling magus is earnest and reverent as he
offers his precious gift; one of the standing magi
salutes with hand to crown; but the delight of the

DECEMBER I 92 5

one Jijty-seven