ITALIAN SCHOOL. 0.000000 GUIDO RENI.ooo000 PRIVATE COLLECTION.

THE JUDGMENT OF MIDAS.

The god Pan, accustomed to the praises which the nymphs gave him when he played on his flute, had the rashness to challenge Apollo. Being on mount Tmolus, they took the god of that mountain for umpire. This god, says Ovid, wishing to hear the better, after having seated himself on the top of the mountain, dismissed all the trees arround his ears, and kept only a garland of oak, the acorns of which hung on his brow. Pan having ceased playing, Apollo crowned with laurel, rose in his turn to sing in his right hand he held a bow; and in his left, an ivory lyre, on which he played so sweetly, that Tmolus charmed with its melody, decided, that Pan's flute must yield the victory to Apollo's lyre. King Midas, who constantly accompanied the god Pan, dared blame this decision and found it unjust. »

Guido Reni, in this picture, has followed what the latin poet had advanced: but, not conceiving the effect of a bow on a lyre, he has placed a violin in Apollo's hands. The figure of the god of music is admirable, as well for the design, as for the colouring and expression. This picture is in the artist's best manner : it forms part of the marchese Manfrini's Collection at Venice, and has not yet been engraved.

Height, 6 feet 4 inches; width, 4 feet 11 inches.