Skeptical Artist Convinced

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“Irenaeus,” in one of his graceful sketches in the New York Observer, gives a striking account of the conversion of the artist who painted one of the beautiful national pictures that adorns the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington. When he selected his theme he was an utter unbeliever in Christianity. As a subject relating to American history was required, he chose the embarkation of the Pilgrim fathers, without a thought of its religious associations. After outlining his characters as grouped on the deck of the Mayflower, the question arose, why were they there? He saw that they were animated by some principle he could not comprehend. He studied their times, their lives, their deeds, their sacrifices, their plans and hopes; and as he studied the truth gradually stole into his own soul, till he had learned to believe in their God and Savior. He found that the secret spring of all their actions was their religion; that their lives were hidden with Christ in God, and that they could abandon home, country, wealth, for freedom to live for Christ. Not till he became a Christian could he understand their motives or characters, or was he fitted to put his immortal work upon canvas.

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