Fig. 48. St. Anthony and the Christ-Child. Murillo. Museum of Seville, Spain. Fig. 48. St. Anthony and the Christ-Child. Murillo. Museum of Seville, Spain.

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KING LEAR

Edwin Austin Abbey (1852-1911)

T

he story of "King Lear" is one of the most pitiful of Shakespeare's play. It is about the thanklessness of children to a father. Old King Lear had three daughters—Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia. He loved these daughters dearly and he believed that they loved him. As he grew old in life he thought he would divide his kingdom and property among them equally; then there would be no trouble about his wealth after he was dead. Of course he expected to make his home with them in turn as long as he lived. Naturally he went to Goneril, the eldest daughter, first. Very soon he found that he was not wanted. She had the money—her father's money—but why should she be troubled with her old father? He then went to Regan, his second child, but she too refused to make a home for him. The third daughter, Cordelia, loved her father dearly and wanted him to live with her that she might care for him in his old age. By a strange mishap the old father thought that Cordelia, his beloved child, was false to him. He wandered off on the heath in a fearful storm and at last found shelter in a hut where he thinks even his faithful dogs are against him. He cries out pitifully:

The little dogs and all,
 Tray, Blanche and Sweetheart, see they bark at me.

Abbey has painted the scene when the old king is leaving heart-broken, for he thinks Cordelia, the child he loves best, is deserting him. Cordelia, knowing how false her sisters are, is saying:

I know you what you are;
 And, like a sister, am most loath to call
 Your faults as they are named. Love well our father.

Abbey's story of "The Holy Grail" in the Boston Library is one of America's great series of paintings for wall decoration.

Fig. 49. King Lear. Abbey. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City. Fig. 49. King Lear. Abbey. Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

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SUNSET IN THE WOODS

George Inness (1825-1894)

W

henever you can, I want you to find out what the painter says about his own pictures. We feel very glad that George Inness told us about "Sunset in the Woods." He said in 1891: "The material for my picture was taken from a sketch made near Hastings, on the Hudson, New York, twenty years ago. This picture was commenced seven years ago, but until last winter I had not obtained any idea equal to the impression received on the spot. The idea is to express an effect of light in the woods at sunset."

What a wonderful glow he has on those trees beyond the big rock away back in the picture. And see the light on the trunk of the big tree near us. I believe the light is gradually disappearing as we look. Somehow we feel the birds are twittering as they go to bed and the flowers are nodding their heads, they are so sleepy. Soon it will be dark and the owl will screech and the night insects will buzz. Come, we must go home or we cannot see our way!

Fig. 50. Sunset in the Woods. Inness. Courtesy of the Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C. Fig. 50. Sunset in the Woods. Inness. Courtesy of the Corcoran Art Gallery, Washington, D. C.

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