The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-18

Saviour carved from one piece of ivory and the
author Of this work is said to be the monk whose
hands wrought the crucifx already alluded to. The
grief displayed upon the face of the Virgin and in
fact upon the faces Of all the group is equal to any
expression ever caughtby the sculptors chisel The
drapery falls over the figures in graceful easy folds
and nothing harsh or forced the beauty of the
artists work. This small and unassuming piece
bears upon it the evidence OF far greater skill and
merit than some Of the larger and more pretending
| statuary which meet the eye along the naves and
aisles of the Crystal Palace. The Italians excel
in statuary Of this kind and time given to the study
and observation of this class of their contributions
will be profitaby devoted the improvement Of the
taste and the refinement Of the intellect.
Still another piece sculpture in the Italian display, to
which we would call the attention of the visitors is
an aegorical statuette called "Italy Crowning the
Tomb Of her Martyrs" The genius Of Italy, made
from ivory, stands before tomb, formed Of ebony,
surmounted by an ivory vase. An nlaid inscription
| upon the tomb reads-Ai miei n,a,tiri, I84S; the
translation of which is-"To my martyrs This is
beautiful design, and interesting to all those who
sympathized with the heroes who fell in the struggle
of 1S4S. Although not successful in their efforts to
free their country, yet their claim is therefore
'ne less upon Italy for the wreath of Immortality
which she is bestowng upon their tomb in the statu
ette described For her they offered up their lives,
and the God Of Battles gave victory to their enc
mics, the paans Of the vctors never fell upon their
ears, but arose above their graves Let those who
applaud the efforts of struggling democracy in
Europe pause to notice this statuette.
MOSAIC CENTRE TABLES.
The works in Mosaic are among the finest speci-
mems of art in the Italian department. and attract as
they justly merit, the attention of the visters The
designs are all worked on black marble, and the
whole forms the top of circular table, or what is
commonly known as a Mosaic centre table. Work
ing in Mosaic is one of the oldest arts and was
known in the days of ancient Greece and Rome.
History tells US that the walls and pavements of
| their temples were ornamented with Mosaic, and
that the effect was beautiful beyond conception. At
present we believe Rome and Florence furnish the
best description Of this beautiful work. and their art
lists superior to those of any other part of Europe
Working in Mosaic is exceedingly tedious, and, be-
sides skill and artistic taste in combination requires
no ordinary degree Of patience in the workman.
Some idea may be formed Of the value of these Ia
bles, when state that there one among those on
exhibition which is worth three thousand dollars.
| As our readers may have some desire to know the
we have taken the trouble to inform ourselves upon
the subject. The figures flowers, or general design
represented the table, are formed Of stones of diff
ferent colors, with which Italy appears to have been
provided with an abundant supply. These are cut
into "slices," if we may use the term Of different
sizes, and afterwards fashioned into the required
shape Each slice is about the sixteenth of an inch
in thickness and some Of them become transparent
when cut that objects are nearly visible through
them as glass. We noticed this quality particularly
in stone Of light purple color, which was used to
represent grapes, and which was remarkably clear,
and yet so like the natural fruit that it would easily
deceive the uninitiated. The black marble, which
forms the design on which the ground is worked is
also not more than hs sixteenth of an inch thick but
it is cemsntod on thicker piece after the nlaying is
| perfected. The process or iniaymg, VIC have in
timated, is the most tedious and at the same time
the most skilful part Of the work. The design,
which may consist Of flowers animals or landscapes,
is first sketched out on the thin circular piece of
marble, and afterwards cut completely through
it. Then the parti colored stones are selected
for the leaves, flowers, &C., and cut after pattern
which is placed before the artist. In one table
there are often more than thousand different pieces
of stone required, and all Of these must be inlaid
with the utmost precision and accuracy. Mosaic is
the perfection of patchwork, but it is different from
all other kinds Of patchwork, because it requires
more neatness, judgment and skill. On one of these
tables is the representation Of parrot, and the
centre of another magnificent bunch of flowers of
various kinds. The plumage of the bird is admi.
rably executed, and is only inferior to painting,
while the various colors of the flowers are so closely
initiated that they might, at a short distance be
mistaken for the real thing.
There are seven pieces of Mosaic work from Flo
renee and five from Rome in the Italian department
besides specimens Of the various stones employed in
the work. All these are placed in the west gallery,
and may be found in class q. The tables from
Florence are from the mandatory Of G. Bianchini,
| who, we understand, is member of the Society of
Fine Arts in several Of the principal cities of Europe
and who took the gold prize medals at the late indus.
| trial exhibition in London. We recommend these
beautiful specimens of Italian art to the attention
and study Of our own artists in the hope that they
will be the means of improving their taste and ex.
citing their emulation.
| vELvETs..
In the manufacture of velvet, Italy is inferior
| to other nation in the world. Genoa is partcu-
larly celebrated for the superior quality of her
velvets, and we believe, has more extensive
manufactures than any other Italian city. The
purple velvets which formed the imperial robes of
the Italian sovereigns for many centuries were
manufactured here, and at one time they were worn
all over Europe. The specimens which we have seen
on exhibition are unsurpassed by anything of the
kind yet displayed in the other departments. The
pile is very close and thick, but exceedingly fine
and smooth to the touch. One piece Of maroon vel
| vet which was shown to US could not be excelled
either in texture or quality. 1t was embellished
with broad stripes, consisting of limitations Of lace,
which gave it peculiar but pleasing appearance.
The specimens of figured or iowered velvet were
also exceedingly beautiful and rich. This is what
they call furniture velvet and in judgment it is
preferable to the most costly damask. Some pieces
| Of this are worth over sixty francs yard.
ho yalyo mi Of \