Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1833-02-26
ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE.
From the Neu York Mirror.1
FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF EUROPE.
BY N. p. WILLIS.

BY NJ 4. WlLLlos
Venice We have passed dav in visiting
palaces. There are some eight or ten in Venice,
whose galleries are still splendid. We landed
first at the stairs of the Paiaszo Grimaa,, and
were received BY an old family servent, who sat
leaning on his knees, and gazing idly into the
canal. The court and staircase were Urnamen-
ted with sta,uary, that had not be moved for
centuries, In the ante-room was foresco pain
ting by Ge"rgone. in which there were twn fe
male cherubs, the first of that sex ever saw
represented. They were beautifully contrasted
with the two male cberubs. who completed the
picture, and reminded me strongly of Green
oush's group in sculpture After examining
several rooms, tapestrisd and furnished IN such a
style as befii,ed the palace Of V"uitian noble,
when Venice was in her glory, We passed on to
the gallery. The best picture in the first room was
large one by Cisoi. the bath Of Cleopatra -
The four attendants of the fair E5yptian are
about her. and are bathing her iset from rich
vase. Het figure Is rather vIiuptuous ane, and
her head is turned, but without alarm. TO An
trny, who is just putting aside the curtain and
entering the room. Ii is of fine colorIng, ra-
rather of the Titan school, and one of The few
good pictures left by the English, who have
bought up almost all the private galleries of We
nice.
We stepped next at The stairs of the noble old
Bar5erigo Pala'e,ln which Titan lived and died.
We mounted The decaying starcases, imagining
the choice spirits OF the great painters time, who
had trnddan them before us. aud (as It was for
ages 'he dwelling OF one Of the proudest races
IN Vence) the beauty and rank tina, had swept
up and dawn those worn slabs OF marble on
nights of revei, ia the days when Venice was a
k,,Gl,
come romantic tances IN such place as this
We passed tarnush hail, hung with ~ elected
pictures to at inner room, occupied only with
thnS- OF Titan Here he painted, and here Is
picture half finished. "a he left when he died. -
His famous Nagia!en hangs on the wall, cover
ed with dirt; ami ~. indeed. is every thing in
the palace The neglect is melancholy. On a
marble tale stood plaster bust of Titan. mould
ell by himself in his Old aye. II Is most noble
head. and 1t is difficult To look at and believe he
could have painted picture which hangs just
against this o1cn daughter in The arms Of q
Saiyr. There is an engraving from II IN one OF
the souvenirs; but instead of the satyr's head.
she holds ca.ke, in her hands, which. though it
does not sufficiently account for the delight oi
her cUuntenance, is an Improvement upon the
original Here, too, are several slight sketches
oil female heads, BY the same master. Oh how
beautiful they are There is une, less than the
size of life. which | would rather have than his
Magdalen
have spent my last day in Venice in visiting
churches. Their splendor makes the eve ache
and the Imagination weary. You would think
the surplus wealhnf half the empires Of the world
would scarce suffice to fill them as they are |
can give no dissertations. The gorgeous tomhs
Of the doges are interesting, and the plain black
monument over Marine Faiero made me lin.er.
Canova's tomb IS splendid; and the simple slab
under your feet in the church Of the Frari. whrre
Titan lies with his brief epitaph. is aiftcting-
but, though shall remember all these, the sim.
pest as well as the grandest, description would
be wearisome to all who had not seen them
This evening at sunset start in the post boat for
the main land. on my wa, to the place OF Ju'ieFs
tomb, eruna Nj, friends. the painters, are
so attracted with the galleries here that they re-
main to copy, and | 60 back alone Tax" a
short letter from me this tme, and expect 10 hear
from me BY the next earliest opportunity, and