The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1853-09-22

interest and attraction IN the U. 3. The
room Of ETuscan vases alone is greater
curiosity, in the way of ancient art, than
what our whole country could Afford
The treasures OF the Louvre, however.
we're not collected in day. They are
collections Of imperial and royal power
exercised for centuries. II is said tha,
the cathedral of Milan is ornamented
with new statues on the accession of every
new Austrian emperor, and still it appears
to be scarcely more beautiful now than
it was three hundred years ago. In the
same way every French sovereing adds
new chambers of curiosities and paintings
to the Lower, without any very sensible
addition TO its wonders. 1t is a large
rectangular edifice, about four hundred
feet square, and the front floor of three
sides of this building, in addition 10 the
gallery which connects it with the Tule.
ries, are filled with the choicest pictures
of all the various schools. In the works
of the old masters it is probably inferior
to the Dresden Gallery, and to two or
three others in Italy; but tits superior 10
any single gallery in Europe, with these
exceptons--infnitely finer than any one
collection in England. But the pictures
are not the chief attraction to me. The
whole basement of the Louvre is filled
with statuary. most of which antique, and
brought at different times, and at immense
expense, from Italy and Greece and Asia
Minor.
At first | wondered why this ancient
statuary should be preferred TO the mod.
ern, but the surprise vanished upon sub.
sequent study, and am convinced that,
in no respect, the works of ancient ar.
lists are surpassed by those of our day,
in spite of all the trophies Of our brilliant
civilization. In the fine arts, in archiec.
ture, staluary, at least, as in poetry and
eIoquence, we are merely imitators, and
frequently servile imitators. Genius, in
this age, seeks other felds-seeks the
useful rather than the beautiful. The
Louvre reminds one of the ancient civil.
zation in the works of art which are col.
Iecled, after the pictures have been fully
contemplated. And when this beautiful
palace shall be joined TO the Tuileries on
the north, as we'll as on the south, so as
to form one single, but complicated and
elaborate edi6ce, and all its rooms filled
with curiosites, as is now contemplated.
it will be we'll worth voyage from Amer.
ica 10 see it. 1t will not only be the great
est museum in the world, but also the most
magnificent abode of royalty in all Eu.
rope. When completely finished, as it
will probably be in three years from this
time, the Louvre and the Tuieres will
form one entire building, completely har-
monized by architectural art, and Louis
Napoleon will have the glory, if glory il
be, to have realized one of the most ia.
vourite conceptions of his uncle, and one
of the cherished desires of the Partisan
people. The completion ofthe TuleIies,
together with the enlargement Of the Rue
de Rivoli, will be greater addition 10 the
architectural beauty of Paris than any
3 one thing effected by any of the kings oil
France. The time is probably very dis.
tant when the Louvre and the Tuileries
will cease to be objects Of national pride
and interest, not merely from the inhe'
rent magnifcence and value of the Pala'
ces, but also from the richness Of their
historical associations.
The Louvre is the more ancient, though
not the most imposing of these palaces
so soon to be united. II texisted as a roy
, al seat as early as the time of Dagobert,
and was a stronghold or prison in 1900
under Phillip Augustus. On the site ol
this ancient castle Francis |. commenced
the present palace, which was continued
by Henry II. 1t was completed, as it al
present exists. by Louis XIV. Until the
, time of Louis XII. it was the ordinary
city residence of the French monarchS
, Charles TX. inhabited it in 1879, when
the massacre Of St. Bartholomew took
place. 1t was in the chambers of this
palace that the scene OF the massacre
, was prepared, and from it were given the
fatal mandates which dyed the Seine witt
blood and filled France with mourning
r That perfidious and wholesale massacre
of 10000 Protestants will ever be asso
ciated with this imposing edfce. for with
in its walls the signal of destruction was
r given. Louis XIV. however, was the las
D Of the French kings who made it even al
e occasional abode.
e Since his day it has been devoted to III,
q reception of the various museums. Ma
0 poleon here collected all that was rar'
q and valuable on the continent; here wer
a displayed the spoils OF Italy, since resto
y red to their lawful owners. The CALLER.
!. in which the pictures were deposited. an,
| which connects the Louvre and the Tuil
e cries, was begun by Charles TX. and fin
G ished under Henry w. 1t is 1899 fee
in length, and forty.two in width. II con
i tains about 1900 paintings, all the work
Is OF deceased masters, German, Flemish
: Spanish, French and Italian. The NOR
e modern French paintings are deposite
h in the main building, which is profusel
h decorated. Its eastern front is consider
e ed one of the best specimens Of architec
Of ture in any age. Its coonnade is tn
W most striking feature. and appears
,e great advantage from the Pont Neuf
le The facade of the Tuileries, howeve
lie is more imposing than the Louvre.
,e was begun by Catharine de Medicis.
It's 1854. Henry w. greatly enlarged
in and Louis XIII. completed it. and mad
Q. it his principal residence. Louis ky
IS, resided in it oooa sionally. until the bult
m I;oo of Vayuaillaa uhen the oouYt forsoo