Jasper County Democrat, Volume 13, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 September 1910 — IN SHADOW OF CROSS [ARTICLE]

IN SHADOW OF CROSS

Marvel of Art World to Be Shown at State Fair. ? ■' . , I. - “In the Shadow of the Cross” is the title of an unexplained miracle picture of Christ that will be one of the chief novelties of the Indiana State Fair the week of September 12. This painting is one of the marvels of the art world and is owned by Dr. W. S. Wright, a millionaire philantrophist of Washington, who for thirteen years has been exhibiting It and giving the proceeds, amounting to thousands of dollars, to worthy charities. It was a feature of the exhibitions at St. Louis, Jatnestown and Seattle and 4,000,000 people have seen it in the forty cities where it has been displayed. Its value la indicated by the insurance carried on It —1120,000, or >40.000 each for fire, accident or theft It will be shown at the fair in a building especially erected for iL

The celebrated painting Is the work of Henry Hammon Ahl, educated in the art centres of Europe. He returned to America, his native land, in 1896, opened a studio, and turned his attention to religious subjects. Among other works, he began painting a full length figure of Christ, his object being to produce an ideal portrait. At first he did not succeed in obtaining bis ideal and the canvass stood, a source of vexation to him. But one day the artist was suddenly impressed, after more work had been done on it, with the realization that he had at last conceived the ideal sought after and he immediately painted the wonderful countenance of the Master now shown in the picture. Not long after, the artist, having to go to his studio on an errand after night, was astonished to discover that his picture could be distinctly seen in the dark, and that Christ appeared to be walking in pale moonlight, while above and behind Him could be seen a cross. The artist's first impression was that the moon was shining through an open window upon the canvass, and that the cross was a shadow. He soon discovered that a strange phenomena bad taken place in connection with his picture, and, as he had only used commonly-known pigments, he soon realized that the strange quality of his picture was beyond his power tb explain. He was so profoundly imhe refused to finish it, and the picture remains unfinished to this day. After Dr. Wright purchased me canvass. the painting was taken to Washington where it was shown to many scientific men who acknowledged their Inability to explain the phenomenon. It created a sensation among the clergy, who have preached more than three hundred sermons on it. Chemists declare that there Is nothing known to chemistry that will cause the wonderful amount of luminosity that emanates from the painting. It is expected to be of particular Interest to religious people who see it at the state fair,