The Ohio Democrat. [volume] (Canal Dover, Ohio) 1840-1900, 1841-06-24

pbluteTS Indi VI Ouo VI ulo tmUoo'oAo fSNSS~S-
sors of Titan.
was so struck with this enchanting picture
that believe upwards Of an hour elapsed. be-
fore mevsd from before il. Day afler day
used TO repair TO the gallery, and passing by
every thing else without paUsing, was accus-
toned to seat myself directly opposite 10 u
sometimes for hours.
THE traveller finds his admiration
warmly sympathized in BY young painter,
who visils the gallery apparently with the pur'
pose Of copying the face, but who keeps his
picture carefully concealed. The picture was
the subject of frequent conversations between
the two, and when the arlist had completed
his work, he sent the traveller an lnylialion'to
come and see 1t,
/ availed myself Of his invitation, and found
him 10 be man of considerable Information
and ac omplshmenI, as it respected matters
entirely unconnected with his art. lie pos
sessed, in reality large portion Of that entia,
siasm and poetry ofIeeling 10 which 50 many
of his brethern affect to lay claim. He had
some literary cultiyation,a and strong literary
tastes. After we had bfeakfasted, he took me
into his painting room. The picture, which
was the object Of my intense curiosity, was
leaning on the easel. 1t represented the inie-
rior OF a bed-chamber, richly furnished after
the fashion of the sixteenth century. The lamp
burned upon a side.!able, and SHED c slroug
light upon the bed. Upon it lay man yonng
end well-lookiug, asleep. Agatha Lanzi was
near it also; she knel, upon it with one knee;
her arm was upralsed with the long gold dlA.
mond- headed bodkin, which easily fecognI-
zed in her hand, as if about 10 pierce the slee-
per to the heart. The artist had taken great
pains with the female figure, and had succssd-
ed far beyond my expectations. Agatha wss
represented IN loose night-dress OF PLAN
white; her beautiful hair slreamed down her
back, confined only with rlband between the
shoulders. Her foot, as she knelt upon the
bed, was naked the slipper which had cover
ed il having fallen TO the ground. The posi-
ton Of the uplitled arm had c.used the sleeves
Of The night dress 10 fall upwards, and dis
played the exquisite arm considerably above
the elbow From the other shoulder the dress
had also slipped. Ia this and the beautiful
bosom, with ils pale blue VEINS branching Ac-
ross the white and delicate skin. the artist had
been particularly successful, The lips were
| compressed, as # with strong mental effjrt
| of resolution; and also az Il TO hold the breath
| lest il should fall upon he ear Of the slespsr
and awaken him, Her dark blue eye was Y
ed with melancholy expression Of caution.
slernness, and even ferocitY, upon the object
about to become her victim. How different
from the & e joyous smile Of grlish con. cious.
ness Of beauty so remarkable in the other pics
ture; and yet no great lapse Of time could be
supposed 10 have iniervened. The figure
before me was In the fulness of beauty
ably about tweniy-three years of age--ecr.
tainIy not morel So soon initiated into oil the
sorrow, and storm and temtestious passions
of human llfe,-into the deepest and blackess
crimes!
turned TO my friend, the painter, for bic
explanation.
Il can give you the best said he. 'Agas
tha's own account other own conduct at tho
crisis which have attempted to represent.
The subject ofthe picture is indeed, taken
from her confession, which has been printed
in collection OF similarpieces. chauced
no, long ago to fall undsr my observation, and
as recognized the name, il gave me the first
idea Of this picture. have modernized the
Italian for yOu-for, both in spelling and phra-
seology, the original would. in all probability.
have proved not very integible to foreigs
ner.' Having thus spoken, the painter handed
me manuscript, Of which The following is q
translation.
'Convent Of, 1886.
'My friends have often wondered why. when
after many crosses ane disappo ointments, l
was at length united TO the chosen lover Of nv
youth and heart, we should, at the end Of one
short year, have seperated-he to 90 10 the
wars, and ] TO bury myself IN THE convent:
therefore write this, that, after my death, they
may know the real truth concerning these nv
sterious passages, and that those who NAV be
tempted, like me, may hereby take warning
from my fate.
above all things, it has been bitter 10 my
soul, that, whilst bore the guilt ofthe black.
est crimes upon my conscience, ] should have
received the praises ofihe world, as du,ifuI
daughter, and vrtuOus and devoted wife. II
has been the horror of The shame that muOl
have attended the acknowledgment Of how
| vile and guilty thing was thus cherished ant
caressed, that has hitherto reslrained The con.
fession which, has so often llembIedl on 10,
lips, and struggled for life and 1ltetsnca.
| 1T ls we'll kROwn TO all who are ACQUAINTED
with me, that in my early youth receive
thevows Of LaurenliC GOnsalyi; and that 10
heart acknowledged the influence
his passion; that our love was permit
ed until the accuFsed blight Of avsfiea fall ri