按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rble also； standing upon a table of alabaster； a black gipsey with a head； hands； and feet of brass； and the famous hermaphrodite； which vies with that of Florence： though the most curious circumstance of this article； is the mattrass executed and placed by Bernini； with such art and dexterity； that to the view； it rivals the softness of wool； and seems to retain the marks of pressure； according to the figure of the superincumbent statue。 Let us likewise own； for the honour of the moderns； that the same artist has produced two fine statues； which we find among the ornaments of this villa； namely； a David with his sling in the attitude of throwing the stone at the giant Goliah； and a Daphne changing into laurel at the approach of Apollo。 On the base of this figure； are the two following elegant lines； written by pope Urban VIII。 in his younger years。
Quisquis amans sequitur fugitivae gaudia formae； Fronde manus implet； baccas vel carpit amaras。
Who pants for fleeting Beauty； vain pursuit！ Shall barren Leaves obtain； or bitter fruit。
I ought not to forget two exquisite antique statues of Venus； the weeping slave； and the youth pulling a thorn out of his foot。
I do not pretend to give a methodical detail of the curiosities of Rome： they have been already described by different authors； who were much better qualified than I am for the talk： but you shall have what observations I made on the most remarkable objects； without method； just as they occur to my remembrance； and I protest the remarks are all my own： so that if they deserve any commendation； I claim all the merit； and if they are impertinent； I must be contented to bear all the blame。
The piazza of St。 Peter's church is altogether sublime。 The double colonnade on each side extending in a semi…circular sweep； the stupendous Aegyptian obelisk； the two fountains； the portico； and the admirable facade of the church； form such an assemblage of magnificent objects； as cannot fail to impress the mind with awe and admiration： but the church would have produced a still greater effect； had it been detached entirely from the buildings of the Vatican； It would then have been a master…piece of architecture； complete in all its parts； intire and perfect： whereas； at present； it is no more than a beautiful member attached to a vast undigested and irregular pile of building。 As to the architecture of this famous temple； I shall say nothing； neither do I pretend to describe the internal ornaments。 The great picture of Mosaic work； and that of St。 Peter's bark tossed by the tempest； which appear over the gate of the church； though rude in comparison with modern pieces； are nevertheless great curiosities； when considered as the work of Giotto； who flourished in the beginning of the fourteenth century。 His master was Cimabue； who learned painting and architecture of the Grecian artists； who came from Constantinople； and first revived these arts in Italy。 But； to return to St。 Peter's； I was not at all pleased with the famous statue of the dead Christ in his mother's lap； by Michael Angelo。 The figure of Christ is as much emaciated； as if he had died of a consumption： besides； there is something indelicate； not to say indecent； in the attitude and design of a man's body； stark naked； lying upon the knees of a woman。 Here are some good pictures； I should rather say copies of good pictures； done in Mosaic to great perfection； particularly a St。 Sebastian by Domenichino； and Michael the Archangel； from a； painting of Guido Rheni。 I am extremely fond of all this artist's pieces。 There is a tenderness and delicacy in his manner； and his figures are all exquisitely beautiful； though his expression is often erroneous； and his attitudes are always affected and unnatural。 In this very piece the archangel has all the air of a French dancing…master； and I have seen a Madonna by the same hand； I think it is in the Palazzo di Barberini； in which； though the figures are enchanting； the Virgin is represented holding up the drapery of the infant； with the ridiculous affectation of a singer on the stage of our Italian opera。 The Mosaic work； though brought to a wonderful degree of improvement； and admirably calculated for churches； the dampness of which is pernicious to the colours of the pallet； I will not yet compare to the productions of the pencil。 The glassyness （if I may be allowed the expression） of the surface； throws； in my opinion； a false light on some parts of the picture； and when you approach it； the joinings of the pieces look like so many cracks on painted canvas。 Besides； this method is extremely tedious and expensive。 I went to see the artists at work； in a house that stands near the church； where I was much pleased with the ingenuity of the process； and not a little surprized at the great number of different colours and tints； which are kept in separate drawers； marked with numbers as far as seventeen thousand。 For a single head done in Mosaic； they asked me fifty zequines。 But to return to the church。 The altar of St。 Peter's choir； notwithstanding all the ornaments which have been lavished upon it； is no more than a heap of puerile finery； better adapted to an Indian pagod； than to a temple built upon the principles of the Greek architecture。 The four colossal figures that support the chair； are both clumsy and disproportioned。 The drapery of statues； whether in brass or stone； when thrown into large masses； appears hard and unpleasant to the eye and for that reason the antients always imitated wet linen； which exhibiting the shape of the limbs underneath； and hanging in a multiplicity of wet folds； gives an air of lightness； softness； and ductility to the whole。
These two statues weigh 116；257 pounds； and as they sustain nothing but a chair； are out of all proportion； inasmuch as the supporters ought to be suitable to the things supported。 Here are four giants holding up the old wooden chair of the apostle Peter； if we may believe the book De Identitate Cathedrae Romanae； Of the Identity of the Roman Chair。 The implements of popish superstition； such as relicks of pretended saints； ill…proportioned spires and bellfreys； and the nauseous repetition of the figure of the cross； which is in itself a very mean and disagreeable object； only fit for the prisons of condemned criminals； have contributed to introduce a vitious taste into the external architecture； as well as in the internal ornaments of our temples。 All churches are built in the figure of a cross； which effectually prevents the eye from taking in the scope of the building； either without side or within； consequently robs the edifice of its proper effect。 The palace of the Escurial in Spain is laid out in the shape of a gridiron； because the convent was built in consequence of a vow to St。 Laurence； who was broiled like a barbecued pig。 What pity it is； that the labours of painting should have been so much employed on the shocking subjects of the martyrology。 Besides numberless pictures of the flagellation； crucifixion； and descent from the cross； we have Judith with the head of Holofernes； Herodias with the head