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rtistic quality for which Correggio is famous. This is _chiaroscuro_, or the art of light and shadow,--the art by which the objects and figures of a picture are made to seem enveloped in light and air, as in the actual world. The contrast between the bright light in the centre and the surrounding darkness gives vivid reality to the figures. There is also a symbolic meaning in the lighting of the picture. Christ is "the light of the world;" hence his form is the source of illumination. Our picture was originally called by the simple title of The Nativity. Then the Italians, struck by the power with which the effect of midnight was produced, called it "La Notte," The Night. When it came to a German gallery the Germans called it "Die Heilige Nacht," The Holy Night. An old German Christmas carol interprets it so perfectly that it seems as if the author must have known the picture. These are the verses:-- "Silent night! Holy Night! All is calm, all is bright Round you, virgin mother and child; Holy infant, so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace. "Silent Night! Holy Night! Shepherds quake at the sight. Glories stream from Heaven afar, Heavenly hosts sing alleluia. Christ the Saviour is born! Christ the Saviour is born! "Silent Night! Holy Night! Son of God, love's pure light Radiant beams from Thy holy face With the dawn of redeeming grace, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth, Jesus, Lord, at thy birth." II ST. CATHERINE READING The story of St. Catherine is very quaintly told in the old legend.[4] She was the daughter of "a noble and prudent king," named Costus, "who reigned in Cyprus at the beginning of the third century," and "had to his wife a queen like to himself in virtuous governance." Though good people according to their light, they were pagans and worshippers of idols. [Footnote 4: The life of St. Catherine is related in the _Golden Legend._ See Caxton's translation in the _Temple Classics_, volume vii., page 1. Mrs. Jameson also gives an outline of the story in _Sacred and Legendary Art_, p. 459.] Even in her babyhood the child Catherine was "so fair of visage" that all the people rejoiced at her beauty. At seven years of age she was sent to school, where "she drank plenteously of the well of wisdom." Her father was so delighted with her precocity that he had built a tower containing di
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