New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1845-12-02
THE TRIBUNE.
Letter from Florence.
Foreign Correspondence of The Tribune.

this CITY, state them proximaely. Travelling In
France or living in Paris costs about the same as II
would in New-York. In Switzerland, the land of
beauty and of grandeur, where the cottage looks ont
nm domain the palace cannot boas, OF, travelling on
foo, is the most rational mode; by doing which and
sopp;ng al second or third rate inns aud agreeing
about the price of things beforehand, fifty sixty
cen,s day will suffice | walked through seven
of the most important cantons saw the finest towns
mountains and lakes in the country at total cost OF
Twelve Dollars. In this city about one-haii the
money necessary in New-York will buy the same
things OF course l speak Of parties as travellers;
those who stay at any Of the mentioned places for
length of time can live considerably cheaper.
Florence was first founded by some merchants OF
Fiesole. and afterward increased and made colony
of by Rome. On the decline of that empire II
passed, in common with all Roman States, through
fierce and bloody revolutions; when at length it be-
came Republic and continued Tor some time
until finally it fell into the hands OF the family OF
Medci the several members OF which ruled over II
under the title OF Grand Dukes OF Tuscany. These
princes, being great patrsns OF the arts embeiIshed
the city by various works Of art aud the best educa
tonal institutions OF the age. Here the master
minds OF the country were educated aud among
them Dante, Petrarch, Boccaccio Machiaveli, Ga
Ieoa and Michael Angelo Buonarotti, 10 tic latter OF
whom Florence owes its architecture and many no.
ole works OF art.
The present Grand Duke who resides here, is
said to be and looks like plain Supplemented and
Industrious man. His government is, in its way,
liberal! and the people comparatively well oil.
The city lies in a valley, surrounded by the APP
ennnes and is divided by the Arno, which, at this
season OF the year, has but very little water in It's
bed and is spauned by four handsome bridges. The
nd
the people make the lanes and cross streets disgust
ing 10 one who thinks pure air and cleanliness es-
sentia.
The largest collections of paintings and sculpture
are in the Royal Gallery and the Palazzo Pitt
The former built by Cosmo the First, and has
twovestibues three corridors several halls and cab
nets filed with sculpture and pictures OF the Ius-
can, Venetian, Florentine, Dutch and Flemish
schools-also cabinet containing number OF mod
ern and antique bronzes, etc
The first corridor has ceilings adorned with ara
besque and in it are over five hundred busis and
statues of historic characters in chronological order
amones, them those of Nero Titus, Marcus Azure
lius Alexander Severus etc
An octagon hall paved with various colored mar
bes is called the Tribune and contains the gems OF
the Gallery l. e. pictures by Raphael, Michael An
CELLO Ten Corrcggio, and similar masters. and hive
antique marble s,atues-the Venus de Medici, said
10 be the work of PraXielcs, the celebrated Apollo
called Apolino the Grinder, or W resilers and the
SNaN''c ~ 49,
best era of ancient sculpture. Some OF these when
found were much broken but were admirably re-
stored by Buonarottl
OF Raphael there is in the Tribune portrait OF
his Fornarna and one of Pope Leo the Tenth 81.
John and two Nladonnas with infants the latter arc
in all probability amongst his earlier essays, and bear
the characteristics OF his master PerruGino-hlSc 1J
iGuvre however, is in the Paazzo Ptti-a Virgin
and child, called Ia Madonna della Seggioa.-here
exquisite beauty, deicacy, sweetness and tender
ness are well expressed and handled IN has happlesi
manner nor has the Virgin that nunnish scctarlansin
,ha, spois her face in of the pictures OF her
BY other masters-but it has also none OF that iul
ness prophecy aud expansibility OF soul one would
expect in the mother of Christ In the Madonna
del SaCco. the masterpiece OF Andrea del Sarto
painted in fresco. in the church OF the Annunzata
these traits appear prominent; and here moderate
physical beauty, but great eXpansblity and radisncy
OF soul show the natural woman, truly great, truly
mother and prophctcss-and one must adore.
OF Correggios pictures there are here also seve-
ral-,he best perhaps. the Madonna about 10 take
into her arms the smiling, playful infant before her.
The colorng is exceedingly fine. and gives the pic
ture the freshness of nature; maternal love and
affection are admirably depicted and expressed
His ST. Jerome, called his chef d'38rre, Is amongst
others OF bis pictures in the Academy oil me Arts
nj Parma, and is superior performance.
Or Titan the most celebrateG-and his master
pieces his Venus. painted full length, and re-
Ginning on a couch. This picture Is OF rare truthful
ness, and OF course painted from nature. The hsnrc
IS not the very perfection of the female form, but
near enough be natural aud beautiful. But It's
greatest merit consists in its coorng the flesh ookS
living In sotness and glow and in these respects
can probably never be eNceled. If equacd. The
head and face, however, seem more like being I'M
preside with than imprcssius the passion OF love,
OF Michael Angeles and Leonardo da Ninci .
pictures have not We, made up my mind fully, but
ii time permit, may speak of them some other time j;
Us also OF those OF Guido, Murl.lO. ard others.
VI the above mentioned statues, the Wresers
and Grinder are the best, we'll in anatomy as IN
anish and expression and are deservedly esteemed.
The Venus de Medic has also fine proportions.
and hesh-hke finish, but as Venus. {. as being
the embodiment, of the passion of love and OF sug-
costing or inspiring it-falls entirely short OF its
reputation and fame, and could furnish another proof
mat Lord Byrons imagination was certainly great,
whatever his judgment may have been.
Canova's euus. In the palace OF the Grand Duke.
IS in the main essentials, Yet more defective.
Unwilling as one may be blindly 10 applaud an
uQuity or old masters, the genius Of Buouarot,i as
sculptor. sways one at once, and bis works impair,
mingled feeling OF respect and admiration. There
sren this city several finished and unfinished statues
oihis; bu, shall mention only those in the sacristy
Of the Church of ST. Lorenzo-Nhich contains the
tomb OF Lorenzo de Medici Duke of Urbino and o.
William his brother. Duke OF Nenours Besides
the life size figures Of these brothers, there are In Il
his famous statues representing Day and Night an,
Madonna and child Three of these are unfinished
but the great ideas of the sculptor shine throuel
HE marble US il were from his mere touch NJ
artist, before or after him. dared venture even tn
Idea of successfully representing day and night b.
the hgurs OF and woman. 1t Is dlihcuIt e
analyze describe the harmonious expression thes
works embody; they mus; be seen-then only uii
ders,anding like an ultimate truth, dawns upon you
Amongst the finest statues here must mentor
The Eve by Hiram Powers in her right hand sh'
hoids an apple and looking At it expresses strong
ner temptation and desire eatit--n her LETT hand
hanging close 10 her body. she holds two more ap
pies Intended for Adam-the serpent with It's col
lafown around the spo; Eve stands on, and ais
around short trunk of tree, close by. !
seen watching the result. AS statue OF the lie
male hgure. 1t exceeds in beauty and truthialnes
OF expression. any OF the old modern statues
nave seen, and feel convinced, when flushed vii
settle the question, who is the best living sculptor
oy unanimous consent This conviction is not les
sened by the opinion OF Thorwalden who said =
me table Of the Grand Duke that 10 man coul'
make bust like MIR. Powers. and that his birth wa
an era in Art"
have not yet been a, Rome, bu, have seen n