Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-09-22
From Iriilis' Letters from, Europe.)

FLoRENsE.-lt is among the pleasantesl
things IN this very pleasant world. to find ones
self for the first time IN famous city. We sal.
lied from the hotel this morning an hour after our
arrival, and stopped at the first corner to debate
where we should 20. l could not help smiling
at the magnificence Of the alternatives" "To
the gallery. of course" said |, "to see the We.
nus de Medicis." ''To Santa Croce," said one,
to see the tombs Of Michael Angelo, and Al6eri,
and Macbiavelli. - $50 the Palazzo Pitti,''
said another, "the Grand Dukes Palace, and
The choicest collection Of pictures in the world"
The embarrassment alone was quite sensation.
The Venus carried the day. We crossed the
Piazza del Granduer, and inquired for the gal
Iery. A fine court was shown US, opening out
from the square, around three sides Of which
stood fine structure, with cOlOnnade, the low
er story occupied BY shops and crowded with
people. We mounted broad stair case, and re
quested of tie soldier at the door, to be direct.
ed to the presence of the Venus without delay.
Passing through one of the long wings Of the
gallery, without even glance at the statues, pic
lures, and bronzes that lined The walls, we ar
rived at the door of cabinet, and putting aside
the large crimson curtain at the entrance, stood
before the enrhantress | must defer descrip.
ton of her. We spent an hour there, but, ex.
cept that her divine beauty filled and satisfied
my eve, az nothing else ever did, and that the
statue is as unlike thing to the casts one sees of
it ss one thing could well be unlike another,
made no criticism. There is an atmosphere of
fame and circumstantial interest about the Venus,
which bewilders the fancy almost as much as her
lOveiness does the eye. She has been gazed up
on and admired by troops of pilgrims, each Of
whom it were worth half life to have met at her
pedestal. The painters, the poets, the talent
and beauty that have come there from every coun-
try under the sun, and the single feeling of love
and admiration that she has breathed alike into
all, eonsecrate her mere presence as place fur
reVerie and speculation.
Shelley and Wordsworth and Moore; and, TAR
Their removed from our sympathies, but interest
ing still, tbs poets and sculptors Of another age,
Michael Angelo and Alferi, the men OF genius
of all nations and times; and to stand in the
same spot, and experience the same feeling with
them is an imaginative pleasure, It IS true, but
as truly deep and real one. Exceeding. as the
Venus does beyond all competition, every image
of loneliness painted or sculptured that one has
ever before seen, the fancy leaves the eye gazing
upon it, and busies itself irresistibly with its
pregnant atmosphere Of recolectons. At least
found it So and must 60 there again and again
before can look at the marble separately, and
with merely admitting attention.
Three or four days have stolen away, scarce
know how. ] have seen but one or two things,
yet have felt SO unequal to the description, thai
but for my promise | should never write line
about them Really, TO sit down and gaze into
one of Titian's faces for an hour, and then 60
away and dream of putting into language its CO.
Ior and expression. seems to me little short Of
superlative madness. | only wonder at the d.
vine faculty. of light. The drausht of pleasure
seems to me immortal. and the eye the only Ga
nymede that can carry the cup steadily to ths
mind How shall begin to give you an idea o.
the Fornarina? What can l tell you of the st
John in The desert. that can afford you GLIMPSE
even of Rapael's inspired creatonss