Great Artists Volume 1: Raphael, Rubens, Murillo and Durer by Jennie Ellis Keysor - HTML preview

THE MELON EATERS .

Murillo .

By this  time Murillo was  wealthy. He had numerous commissions and, in society, he mingled with the best in the land. He was now in a position to marry, which he did in 1648. There is a story told of Murillo’s marriage which one likes to repeat. He was painting an altar- piece for the church in Pilas, a town near by; while he was working, wrapt in thoughts of his subject, a lovely woman came into the church to pray. From his  canvas, the artist’s eyes wandered to  the worshipper. He was deeply impressed with her beauty and her devotion. Wanting just then an angel to complete his picture, he sketched the face and the form of the unsuspecting lady. By a pleasant coincidence he afterwards made her the angel of his home—his good wife. The painter doubtless proved the truth of Wordsworth’s beautiful lines—

“I saw her upon nearer view

A spirit yet a Woman too!

· · ·

“A countenance in which did meet

Sweet records, promises as sweet;

A creature not too bright and good

For human nature’s daily food.

· · ·

“A perfect woman nobly planned,

To warn, to comfort, and command;

And yet a spirit still, and bright

With something of angelic light.”

However this may be, we know that she is often painted as the Virgin in Murillo’s great pictures. Her liquid eyes and dark hair inspired him to forget the rigid rules laid down regarding the Virgin’s having blue eyes and fair hair or, at all events, to disregard them. We shall see the Mary in some of his loveliest pictures with the dark hair and eyes of his countrymen. Three children were born into Murillo’s home, two boys and one girl. One boy for a time practised the art of his father, but he later became a clergyman. The other son came to America, while the daughter devoted herself to religion and entered a convent.

After  Murillo’s marriage, h<