Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-10-26
SAINT PETERS AT ROME.
rI,.,,, .h. JnnrnaI nfa Traveller

deSCenQeQ u
moments kept Bernini's for my foreground,
then slowly proceeded to the obelisk in the cen
tire of the Piazza, and gazed in silence on ST.
Peters.
The immense spread of architecture which
on all sides surrounded me-a population Of
paiaces--the bold>swelling Piszza,-the tenn
pie. like solitude which still pervaded every
thine-the continuous and hushing sound Of
The fountains-the few scattered figures saun.
terinp at distanoe-the grand simplicity OF
the colonades-the unity and regularity OF
thc tall obrlisk-the grass springing up AT In
,eryals through the basalt and porphyry lines
of the pavement at its base, and bringing a SEN
sation of retirement into the mids, of city,
and the sleepiness and sultriness of grey si-
rocco sky hanging overhead, all this coming
on the sense and imagination at the same
time, weighed down every other feeling into an
involuntary repose, and left me in the very best
mood of thought and contemplation.
The first view pleased her than as,onish-
ed, and as,onished rather than awed me.
felt enthusiasm, but no, precisely the enthusl-
asm I had anticipated. had been calculating
on the effect OF larger St. Paups. The i'm
preston certainly is neither that Of mass or ex-
tent: If such was intended by the architec,s,
they have failed. But what some Call tai>
lure others term perfection, and sscribe 1t to
a cause the least likely of all Others to produce
il, the perrec; SYMMETRY and accord OF the
members with each other, and the parts with
the whole. know not on what principle OF
metaphysics the assertion may be grounded,
but surely there is sufficient practical refuta-
ton of sxch theory in the Pantheon, Parthe-
non, Postum, and almost every other edihce
still remaining Of antiquity. The true origin
Of such defec, SIS rather TO be sought for in
the accessories and accompanying Giro mstan-
ces Of the buildings, than in the buildings them
selves. ST. Peters is composed OF such few
and mighty parts; there is so much IN the
clearness and transparency of the atmostsPhere
TO confuse our ordinary perceptions OF height
and distance; a northern eye, Infatuated as 1t
is TO smoke and mist, makes such large allow
ances for aerial perspective; there is so much
exclusion of all ordinary objects of comparison,
SO little but what is gigantic to measure by,
that it is scarcely singular il should fall below
the splendid batteries and promises Of engra-
vers, and appear the whole considerably
inferior 10 It's foreign reputation. felt pro-
yoked rather than disappointed. had no, di-
rected my expeC tations to the real merits Of the
building, thought Of lis stature only, and
ST. Peters to my Imagination, was alls,-e.
This feeling, however, soon wore OH, in' left
me in more satisfactory temper for sxamina-
ton. Tine site Of the present edi6ce is nearly
that Of the ancient. The Circus Of Nero was,
al an early period, selected for the erection OF 4
Christian Temple in honour OF St. Peter, sup
posed 10 have been martyred and buried on this
very spot. Nardin and common sense crowd
difficulty on difficulty against the theory; but
whether the shrine be tomb or ccnotaph, is Of
little consequence to the more architectural vi
sitter. The Charch of Constantine, or rather of
his age, was frequently repaired in accordance
with its original character. The facade, low
and fat, as preserved in the fresco OF the con-
hagration Of the Borgo, and views Of the in,e
rior and particularly Of the roof, still TO be seen
In the Vatican; gives features in strict coinci-
dence with the more ancient Bssiiice Cft the ci-
w. The present temple; suggest by Nicholas
V. and commenced by Julius III. was terminal
ed by Paul ", period of four aud twenty pom
tiicaI reigns, TO which the labour and expense
were fully commensurate. The present plan is
a cento, and has the good and bad, not only OF
many architects, but Of many schools. The o.
rieinai conception was Bfamante's and Michael
Angelo, on the mere faith of Boosting anec-
do,e. has had the glory Of altogether excluding
his predecessor. To Michael, indeed, we owe
a better form Of Greek cross, the square colon
made and quadruple portico on the model OF
the Pantheon, Improvements were soon drown
cd under the corrections Of later architects; but
the cupola was not originally his, and he has
only the merit Of having Bothered the daring OF
the great res,orer who went before him. Mi
chaei Angeles plan is still preserved in the Va
,ican, and still admired; but il may be doubted
whether the interior would not have lost in pro-
portion as the exterior had gained, by the a,
doption Of the Greek cross: or whether colon
made, a considerable portion Of which must al
ways be lost by the Intervention Of the temple,
is TO be preferred to the finely displayed sweep
Of the colonnade Of Bernin The original use
of these porticoes is very clear: they were to
screen The sacred precinct from the intrusion
of the profane, and Michael Angelo, no doubt,
in its application to modern temple had strong
" in hi. view the object and practice of the an
clients. But where nothing Of the kind was ne
cessary, and a noble approach TO magnificent
pile was all that was sought after, when the
Greek cross was superseded by the Latip, Ber-
minis colonnadr acquired a new merit: and, as
the building proceeded, was found to be ne