Where was the Sistine Madonna executed? Where and by whom was it taken to Dresden?
Maggie Huston.
Answer.—The “Madonna di San Sisto” was executed by Raphael as an altar-piece for the Church of St. Sixtus at Piacenza, in Northern Italy. It is perhaps the most widely known of Raphael’s works, and universally regarded one of his supreme efforts. Mrs. Jameson, renowned as an art critic, says of it; “For myself, I have seen my ideal once, and once only, there where Raphael—inspired, if ever a painter was inspired—projected on the space before him that wonderful creature which we style the Madonna di San Sisto.” It was painted between 1517 and 1520. We are not positive as to when and by whom it was removed to Dresden, but think it was during the reign of Frederick Augustus II., King of Saxony from 1797 to 1854. This King did more than any of his predecessors to embellish Dresden.
AUTHOR OF “THE FLAG OF OUR UNION.”
Stanberry, Mo.
Will your Curiosity Shop give a short sketch of the author of the poem entitled, “The Flag of Our Union”?
J. M. H.
Answer.—George P. Morris was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1802. From early manhood he followed journalism, and was the originator of the two newspapers, The Mirror and The National Press. For several years he was associated with N. P. Willis, and, under their united efforts, the Mirror became a leading literary, magazine, having among its contributors Poe, Bryant, Halleck, and Paulding. In 1853 Morris and Willis edited “Prose and Poetry of Europe and America.” His reputation, however, chiefly rests upon his original poems, and of these the most familiar are “Woodman, Spare that Tree,” and “The Flag of Our Union.”