DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.22424#0096
82 THE MAEQUIS OF HERTFORD'S COLLECTION. Letter II.
coat and orange-coloured mantle, and accompanied by five male
figures, one of whom is breaking a withered staff"—is the High
Priest. Behind is a crimson curtain with a ray of light falling
from above, and the Holy Spirit in form of a dove before it. The
draperies are in particularly fine taste, the execution equal and
very careful. This is by far the most important example of the
few cabinet pictures by Murillo known to me.
3. The Virgin in Glory. In white dress and azure mantle.
Several angels at her feet. Her head is of unusual elevation of
character, and the effect of the whole earnest and powerful.
Small figures. From the Stowe collection.
4. The Virgin holding the Child. Life-size, to the knees; of
oval form. I know few pictures by the master where the dra-
peries are treated so finely, and where the colours are of such
luminous transparency. At the same time the treatment is very
careful. From the collection of Casimir Terrier.
5. The Virgin and Child. Half-length figures. A good
picture, though not so important as the foregoing.
6. The Adoration of the Shepherds. Represented as a night
scene, with the light proceeding from the Child. Around are the
figures of St. Joseph, two shepherds, a shepherdess carrying a
basket with two pigeons, a boy, and two angels. Below, in
the foreground, are a lamb and a dog. About three-quarters
size. The Virgin is of unusual elevation both of form and ex-
pression, and the other heads very animated. The red-brownish
tones of the flesh are transparent, and the general effect
admirable.
7. The Holy Family. The Virgin is kneeling and contem-
plating the Child lying on the floor before her, who, looking up to
the adoring little St. John, points to the scroll with the " Ecce
Agnus Dei." St. John grasps the scroll in token that he accepts
the mission. On the right is Joseph standing with an open book,
and looking at the children. Behind him are trees ; on the other
side a lightly treated hill and sky. This is a very remarkable
work of the master. The Virgin, who is painted in a warm,
silvery tone, is refined and noble both in feature and expression.
The Child is very lovely, and, like the St. John, warmly and trans-
parently coloured. Joseph alone is of a cool reddish flesh-tone.
At the same time the execution, especially in the Virgin and
coat and orange-coloured mantle, and accompanied by five male
figures, one of whom is breaking a withered staff"—is the High
Priest. Behind is a crimson curtain with a ray of light falling
from above, and the Holy Spirit in form of a dove before it. The
draperies are in particularly fine taste, the execution equal and
very careful. This is by far the most important example of the
few cabinet pictures by Murillo known to me.
3. The Virgin in Glory. In white dress and azure mantle.
Several angels at her feet. Her head is of unusual elevation of
character, and the effect of the whole earnest and powerful.
Small figures. From the Stowe collection.
4. The Virgin holding the Child. Life-size, to the knees; of
oval form. I know few pictures by the master where the dra-
peries are treated so finely, and where the colours are of such
luminous transparency. At the same time the treatment is very
careful. From the collection of Casimir Terrier.
5. The Virgin and Child. Half-length figures. A good
picture, though not so important as the foregoing.
6. The Adoration of the Shepherds. Represented as a night
scene, with the light proceeding from the Child. Around are the
figures of St. Joseph, two shepherds, a shepherdess carrying a
basket with two pigeons, a boy, and two angels. Below, in
the foreground, are a lamb and a dog. About three-quarters
size. The Virgin is of unusual elevation both of form and ex-
pression, and the other heads very animated. The red-brownish
tones of the flesh are transparent, and the general effect
admirable.
7. The Holy Family. The Virgin is kneeling and contem-
plating the Child lying on the floor before her, who, looking up to
the adoring little St. John, points to the scroll with the " Ecce
Agnus Dei." St. John grasps the scroll in token that he accepts
the mission. On the right is Joseph standing with an open book,
and looking at the children. Behind him are trees ; on the other
side a lightly treated hill and sky. This is a very remarkable
work of the master. The Virgin, who is painted in a warm,
silvery tone, is refined and noble both in feature and expression.
The Child is very lovely, and, like the St. John, warmly and trans-
parently coloured. Joseph alone is of a cool reddish flesh-tone.
At the same time the execution, especially in the Virgin and