The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-19
From the Knieksrboeker for October.
AMERICAN RESEARCHES IN ITALY,
lirE or rAsso: RECOVERY OF LOST PORTRAIT
OF DANTE


To the Editor Of The Knickerbocker:
SIR; Permit me. through the pagts OF your
Magazine TO call the attention oil the puohc W
The learned and elegant researches in Europe oil
one of our countrymen, Mr.. II. III. Wilde, oil Ga,
formerly n member Of the House OF Repre-
sentiyes After leaving Congress, MT. "hue
a f.w wears since spent about eighteen months
in travelling through different parts OF Europe,
unril he became stationary for a time IN Tusca-
nv Here he occupied himself with researches
concerning the private life Of Tasso, whose
mysterious and romantic love Tor the Princess
Leonora, his madness and Imprisonment, had
recently become the theme OF literary conlro-
yersy. not yet ended; curious IN Itself, and rem
dered still more curious by some alleged manu-
scripts of the poet, brought forward by Count
Albeui. Mr. Wilde entered into the investiga-
lion with the enthusiasm OF poet, and the pa
tience and accuracy of a chase hunter; ana mas
produced work now in the press IN which the
'.yexed questions" concerning Tasso are most
ably discussed, and lights thrown upon them oy
his letters, and by various OF MS sonnels' Wh'ch
last are rendered into English with rare felicity.
While Mr.. Wilde was occupied upon this work.
he became acquainted with Signor Carlo Lave
rati an artist Of considerable merit, and especi-
alIy well versed in the antiquities Of Florence.
This gentleman mentioned incidentally one day,
in the course Of conversation, that there once
and probably slill existed in the B0rgeiio, an
lie, an authentic portrait OF DANTE. II was be-
lieved to be in fresco. on a wall which aiterward,
by some strange neglect or inadvertency, had
been covered with white-wash. Sguor-Liye-
rat mentioned the circumstance merely TO de-
plore the loss of precious portrait, and to re-
gre, the almost utter hopeessness OF its recovery.
As Mr.. Wilde had not as yet imbibed that en-
thusiastc admiration for Dante which possessed
all Italians, by whom the poet is almost wor-
shipped, this conversation made but slight i'm
preston on him at the time. Subsequently,
b however, his researches concerning Tasso be-
ing ended, he began TO amuse his leisure hours
with attempts TO translate some specimens oil
Italian lyric poetry, and TO compose very short
biographical sketches Of the authors. In these
specimens, which as yet exist only IN manuscript,
he has shown the same critical knowledge OF the
Italian language, and admirable command of the
English that characterize his uanslations OF
Tasso. He had not advanced far in these exer-
cises, when the obscure and contradictory ac-
counts Of many incidents in the life OF Dante
caused him much embarrassment, and sorely
piqued his curiosity. About the same time he
received through the courtesy OF Don Neri del
Principi Corsni what he had long most fervent-
" desired, permission from the Grand Duke TO
pursue his Investigations in the secret archives
Of Florence, with power to obtain copies there
from This was rich and almost unwrought
mine Of literary research; Tor to Italians them
selves as we'll as foreigners, their archives for
the most part have been long Inaccessible. For
two years, Mr. Wilde devoted himself with in
deiatigable ardor to explore the records Of the
republic during the time Of Dante. These being
written in barbarous Latin and semi Gothic cha
racters on parchment more or less dlscolored
and mutilated, with ink sometimes faded, were
rendered still more egible by the arbitrary abb
breviations Of the notares. They require, in
fact, an especial study; few even Of the officers
10 tho 9 Ar~h lie
one" can read them currently and correctly.
Mr.. Wide, however, persevered in his labo-
rious task with patience severely tried, but in
vincble. Being without an index, each file each
book, required to be examined page by page, to
ascertain whether any particular OF The immortal
poets political life had escaped the untiring in
dustry Of his countrymen. This toll was not
wholly fruitless, and several interesting facts OBJ
scurely known, and others utterly unknown by
the Italians themselves, are drawn forth by Mr.
Wilde from the oblivion Of these archives.
While thus engaged, the circumstance of the
los, portrait of Dante was again brought TO Mr..
Wildes mind, but now excited intense interest.
In perusing the notes Of the late learned Canaan
leo Morer on Filelfo's life Of Dante, he found il
stated that a portrait of the poet by Giotto was
formerly TO be seen in The Bargello. He learned
also that Signor Scott, who has charge of the
original drawings of the old masters in the i'm
perIal and royal galleries, had made, several
years previously, an Intellectual attempt TO set on
foot project for the recovery of the lost trea-
sure. Here was new vein OF inquiry, which
Mr.. Wilde followed up with his usual energy
and sagacity. He soon satisfied himself, by re-
ference to Vasar and to the still more ancient
and decisive authority of Filippo Wharf, who
lived shortly after the poet, that Giolto, the
friend and contemporary Of Dante, did undoubt-
eddy paint his likeness in the place indicated.
Giotto died in 1886; but as Dante was Danish
ed, and was even sentenced to be burned, in
1903, II was obvious the work must have been |
executed before that time; since the portrait
OF one ouawed and capitally convicted as an
enemy TO the Commonwealth would never
have been ordered or tolerated in the chaIel of
the royal palace. II was clear, then that the
portrait must have been painted between 1890
and 1902.
Mr. Wilde now resolved in his own mind
the possibility that this precious relic might re-
main undesroyed under it's coat Of wbiewash,
and might vet be restored to the world For
moment he felt an impulse TO undertake the en-
terprise, but feared that, in a foreigner from
new world, any part Of which is unrepresented
at the Tuscan court, il might appear like an in
trusion. He soon. however found a jealous CO.
adjutor. This was one Giovanni Aubrey Beg
ii, Pedmontese exile, who had long been re-
sdent in England, and was familiar with it, Ian
guage and literature. He was now on visit 10
Florence, which liberal and hospitabe city is al
ways open 10 men of merit, who for political
reasons have been excluded from other parts of
Italy. Signor Bezzi partook deeply of the en-
ihusasm Of his countrymen for the memory Of
Dante, and sympathised with Mr.. Wilde in his
eagerness 10 retrieve, if possible, the lost por-
irait They had several consultations as to the
means 10 be adopted to effect their purpose |
without mourning the charge of undue officlous-
ness. TO lessen any objections that might oc-
cur, they resolved TO ask Tor nothing but permis-
sion TO search for the fresco painting at their own
exnnnse: and should any remains OF Il be found |