Page 116 - La Société canadienne d'histoire de l'Église catholique - Rapport 1961

112 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS.

of Isabella la Catholics by a Queen, "as the proof of her ap-
preciation."
In 1846, FAGNANI again took up his abode in Paris, and
remained there until 1849, when in consequence of the un-
settled state of the times, he accepted the invitation: of
his friend Sir HENRY BULWER, who had been appointed British
mini~lter to Washington, to accompany him to the United Statea
and spend the ensuing winter there. Visiting Madeira and
Bermuda en route, they arrived at Washington on the 23d of
December, 1849; since which FIIGNANI resided in this country,
mostly in New York, until last year, when he returnecl to Paris
-we hope only temporarily. Yet in the prime of life, we may
fondly trust that nobler achievements await his pencil. It is
fortunate that our Society has been honored with a picture exe-
cuted by such a master-and that the portrait of so renowned
and admired an American as the lamented Dr. KANE. Of the
original of this valuable picture, from which that presented to
our Society is copied, a New York correspondent of the Boston
Evening Tranecrtpt thus speaks:
"To complete the train of reminiscences of which they are
the mute symbols, our popular artist, the Chevalier FAGNANI,
has just put the finishing touches to a portrait of Dr. KAN~,
executed for one of his friends in England. It is the only like-
ness of the intrepid savan, I have seen, that conveys an ade-
quate impression of his character. Signor FAGNANI painted a
portrait of him for his fitther, the late Judge KANE, just before
the Doctor sailed from New York, on his last expedition; he
saw him on the deck of the Advance, and in the genial atmos-
phere of his own studio; his recollection of every feature and
phase of expression is, therefore, distinct and vivid; still, his
new portrait may be regarded as a singular triumph, since it
not only gives the contour and details of his countenance with
mathematical precision, but we read in the eyes and month all
that firmness, modesty, clear perception, moral courage and
earnest faith, which marked the living man."
111-IV-V. Of FLAW, who painted the fine portrait of