Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1854-03-22
House Of Michael Angelo.


Florence, Jan, 3, 1854.-We have been to
the house of Michael Angelo. And what ofthat!
Is the old giant still i'll his cave No-but his
great footprints the five-mile boots too, in
which he made such strides that none of his fell
lows could keep up with him, and the club which
fought his way he went. Pilgrims come to
this dwelling as toa shrine and the descendant
of the departed oecupant-Cav. Cosmo Buona-
rotti, distinguished magistrate-who now oc-
cupies it, throws open the doors every Thursday
to receive them. On crossing the threshold one
feels n thrilling consciousness, that mighty steps
have been there before him. Aspacous ante
ehamber--hung with engravngs from the pro-
phcts and sibyls, of the Vatican Frescoes-leads
into what is termed the gallery-a long room
ranged by Angeles nephew, (hmself an illus
trous disciple of Galileo) after his death.
The paintings of this gallery were executed by
the most eminent artists of the time, and repre-
sent different incidents in the great artists life
Angelo presenting the plan of the Laurcntian
library of Florence, to Leo X-by Empoli-is
thought generally to be the best IF these; though
none Of them struck us as remarkable. But
something not to be passed by is the fact that
the lndomtabe genius which, undertook at once
the Last Judgment, the Moses, and the Cupola of
st. Peters, was during the sixty years thathe
relgned over the kingdom of art-crowncd with
wealth and honor by seven Popes, besides re-
ceiving the most hattering solicitations from
Francis |, Charles ', Alfonso dEste, the Re
public of Venice "Soliman, says modern wri-
ter, even wanted him to unite Europe and Asia
by bridge over the Dardanolles - he himself
was another power holding tue sceptre of the
arts.
In this, his palace, may be seen his earliest
performance in painting and sculpture, while its
architecture speaks for itself the name of the o.
originator. Here also many of his crayon
sketches, or studies, hung up in frames around
the rooms all showing more or less his individ-
ual thought and Iercuean touch. "Angeo,n
says the author referred to- painted, Holbcin,
with his left hand and sculptured with his right,
which had become SO weakened by subduine
rock, as to be in sufficient for the delicate touches
of the pencil on the canvass. Architect, seulp-
tor, painter, poet, it has ever been difficult to de-
eide in which department of art he excelled.-
Poetry does butjustly describe him the four soul
ed man The precious autograph manuscript of
his poems in this house, Is composed of pieces
sent to the brothers Ricoo, his intimate friends
to be corrected.
This manuscript but partially communicated
and little known, is extremely curious from the
numerous reflections, by turns melancholy, gny
and familiar, with which it is interspersed; Civ
ing it almost the interest of memoirs from it we
can gain much more intimate and accurate ac-
qualntanee with Michael Angelo than from his
two apologetic biograph -Vassar and Con
dlvl, or even his last dry history by NJ. Quatre-
mere. Sometimes he jests about the severity of
his censors, who make, he says, real butchery
of his verses. bnndle of his records also is
here shown, containing even the minute expen-
scs OF journey to Venice in September 1929.
and the measure of the marble he had ordered
from Carrera This proves, as in the case of
our Washington, that greatness and litteness, in
one sense, are not incompatible. From the let
ters of Angelo preserved here, it seems evident
that however Others differ as to his diverse gifts
it was as sculptor that he desired to be knownas
in IVORY inst hn
! gelo Buonarott, Scultore.
In his poems there is more delicacy of con-
ceptlon and execution-addcd to his own particu-
lar power-than in any of his paintings which
we hevc yet seen; these are strong and striking
never soft and touching, but his love-poems
are Think of Great Mchael's making love to
| bright eyes, velvet cheeks and rosy lips Yet
some of his sonnets are really Petrarchian We
entered the petit cabinet closet where he wrote
and if walls could circumscribe genius his Pc
gasus would have been too straitened to fy high
or wide. We touched his cane and his sword,
and IN doing it, felt an electric shock and saw
his two rosaries, with sundry bones of saints nm
der glass and richly fr1med-proving that Ange.
10 was not only man of prayer, but mammoth
child. How strange, that he who could create
gods for others to worship, bowed down himself
to toys, and kissed dead mems bone fer tn, liy
ing truth
1t would seem that one who broke fearlesslv A.
why rum received theories and OPINIONS into the
fresh realms of art, might have shaken off II p
trammels OF educated supersttion-as did sam
son the withcs of the Phiistines, and walked
with truth, himself among the prophets who
"walked with God"
To us the studio was the most interesting ston-
ping place IN this days journey. 1t is spa
cIous room,the walls freseoed bv Anpelns minis
with scenes celebrating the chief poets and min,
tiers OF Italy with beftting dome, devised by
himself from which the LIGHT falls favorably on
the ala.l-.' IL. Here are eAA.o.,ed m, yar,on.
! implements OF art and in a closet quantity of