But the picture itself is sometimes not a thing to be consciously analyzed and inventoried; it is simply a thing of beauty, "its own excuse for being;" it is something to be received as a whole with thankfulness, like the odor of wild grape vines, or the form of a calla lily, or the color of a sunrise, or the music of wind in pine trees. Such a picture is this Madonna of the Shop, by Dagnan-Bouveret. One may think for a moment now and then of how well the picture is composed, of how perfect a master of his art the man must be who can make spots of paint suggest wood and metal, linen and wool, soft flesh and softer light, but the mind returns again and again to the contemplation of the wondrous sweet face of the Virgin, whose deep eyes see unspeakable things. One comes to love such a picture as a dear familiar friend, and to yield to its gentle influence as to moonlight upon the sea. The contemplation of such pictures is one of the purest pleasures of life, a foretaste of the sight of "the King in his Beauty." THE GREAT PAINTERS' GOSPEL. THE GREAT PAINTERS' GOSPEL. [Illustration: The Annunciation.] _The Annunciation._ Titian. THE ANNUNCIATION. The angel Gabriel was sent from God to a virgin whose name was Mary. The angel said "Hail, Mary, highly favored, blessed art thou among women." (Luke 1:26-28.) Mary is supposed to have been in a house of worship at the time (like Hannah, 1 Sam. 1:9-18, and Zacharias, Luke 1:8-13), hence the beautiful surroundings; and to have been at prayer, as suggested by the kneeling posture and the book. The dove is a symbol of the Holy Ghost (Luke 3:22). The beam of light symbolizes the going forth of divine power (Hos. 6:5). The angel is borne upon a cloud (Ps. 104:3), and carries a rod or scepter, symbols of authority (Ex. 4:1-5, Esther 4:11). The lily is introduced as a symbol of perfection and purity (Song 2:2; compare also Num. 17:8). Titian has depicted the instant when the angel says "Hail, Mary." He has introduced emblems of the ideal woman (Prov. 31:13, 14, 26, etc.). [Transcriber's Note: As you may note, each plate is introduced with the artist's name and the plate number. In the original source, this text was bolded, not italicized.] _Hofmann, Plate 1,_ shows the moment when Gabriel says: "Blessed art thou among women." (Luke 1:28.) In this picture only, the angel approaches from behind. The picture recalls the experience of another Mary (John 20:14). _Guido Reni, Plate 2,_, has chosen the instant when Gabriel says, "Thou hast found favor with God." The infant angels represent, perhaps, "the spirits of love, intelligence and innocence," [1] and accompany the Divine Presence because of the words of Christ, when speaking of children, "Their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven." (Matt. 18:10.)