The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-04 00:00:00

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VEINICE AND TITIAN.

And so lam actually in Venice I Well ; to-day I have
seen the finest pictures in the world, and have at last per-
sonally made the acquaintance of a very admirable man,
whom hitherto I only knew by name—l allude to a certain
Signor Giorgione, an inimitable artist—and also to Porde -
none, who paints the most noble portraits, both of himself
and many of his simple scholars, in such a devout, faithful,
and pious spirit, that you seem to converse with him, and
to feel an affection for him. Who would not have been con-
fused by all this ? But if lam to speak of Titian, I must
do so in a more reverent mood. Till now, I never knew
that he was the felicitous artist I have this day seen him to
be. That he thoroughly enjoyed life, in all its beauty and
fulness, the picture in Paris proves •, but he has fathomed
the depths of human sorrow, as well as the joys of heaven.
His glorious "Entombment," and also the "Assumption,"
fully evince this. How Mary floats on the cloud, while a
waving movement seems to pervade the whole picture ;
how you see at a glance her very breathing, her awe, and
piety, and in short a thousand feelings—all words seem
poor and commonplace in comparison! The three angels,
too, on the right of the picture, are of the highest order of
beauty—pure, serene loveliness, so unconscious, so bright,
and so seraphic. But no more of this, or I must perforce
become poetical, or indeed am'so already, and this does not
at all suit me; but I shall certainly see it every day.
I must, however, say a few words about the " Entomb-
ment," as you have the engraving. Look at it, and think
of me. This picture represents the conclusion of a groat
tragedy : so still, so grand, and so acutely painful. Mag-
dalene is supporting Mary, fearing that she will die of an-
guish ; she endeavours to lead her away, but looks round
hers elf once more, evidently wishing to imprint this spec-
tacle indelibly on her heart, thinking that it is for the last
time ; it surpasses everything ; and then the sorrowtng
John, who sympathises and suffers with llary, ani Joseph,
who absorbed in his piety, and occupied with the tomb,
direots and conducts the whole ; and Christ himself, lying
there so tranquil, having endured to the end : then the blaze
of brilliant colour, and the gloomy mottled sky, It is a'
composition that speaks to my heart and fills me with en-
thusiasm, and will never leave my memory.
I believe few things I have yet to see in Italy will affect
rec., so deeply; but you know that I am devoid of all pre-
judices, and I give you a fresh proof of this by telling you
that the Martyrdom of St. Peter, from which I expected
the most: pleased me the least of the three; it did not strike
me as being a complete whole; the landscape, which is very
fine, seemed to me to predominate too much. Then I was
dissatisfied with the disposition in the picture of two vic-
tims and only one murderer; (for the small figure in the
distant background does not remedy this). I could not
bring myself to consider it a martyrdom. But probably I
am in error, and I intend to stud it more carefully
wasto-
n t hed iosr eg
i:nb ,° d
andb
y
somemor r oown—e
strummingm y contemplationon of i t ,sacrilegiously besides,
o
istewntreo susuchchmpisicetrutles
opera
these sacredfinaeo. formaßut mattersthweisraforeed to
not;l he
are. I require no organist. I play the organ in my thoughts
for myself, and feel as little irritated by such trash, as I
should bo by an ignorant rabble. Titian, however, was a
man well adapted to improve others ; so I shall try to profit
by him, and to rejoice that lam in Italy. At this moment
the gondoliers are shouting to each other, and the lights
are reflected in the depths of the waters; ono is playing a
guitar, and singing to it. It is a charming night.
ttrovell 1 and think of me in every happy hour, as I do of
you.
From Venice he proceeded to Florence, and thence
after a brief stay, to Rome. With this city he was
delighted, but gives this opinion of