New-York tribune., 1868-12-26
RAyARD TAYLOR'S LETTERS
TIE AMERICAN COLONY IN hoME
u.y,N Orr Own CORRESPONDENT

,,...,.,, 1851 feel called upon 10 auu ~ ny
,,,;.f ,,nort of Rome as found 1t IN tlS Nei -
INC como notice Of the American art coioh9 '''''
ndof the activity Of it's members Inc a''is'S'" "o"
over arc only the nucleus around WHICH, 0'o''
v,;,,.r colIocts nm American community so numei-
NJ il alro,1v impreSses It's existence on the
physiocnomy Of all the streets lying De'"coN '"o
porta del Popolo and the Quirinal.
Sine, tbc days of Popes Julius and Leo, Rome has
bo tbe chief artist capital of the world ana VIII
rrobably long remain SO. It is question whether
nrIou residence there is more OF an advantage OF
an injury 10 an artist, in these days nave ire
oueptly heard the matter discussed herein Germany
but all the arguments pro and simply convinced
me that an artist Of Inherent, original creative power
may take ND his residence anywhere lie masters
the influences Of his predecessors, wlhlo Inferior
talent is mastered by them Tradition, IN Art as ~
Politics or Theology. always marks the line Wl,on
strong Independent natures oyerSten ana WHICH, '''
all lesser natures, is an mpassable barrier
But there is no question about Rome beihs '"0 .,'
where artist may live most easily and agreeaOly,
Sculptors may reproduce tho eVefiasuns i""Hs On"
nvmnbs of aptioue art sure that The minds OF the
the tonrists they see are fIeshy-ed with the same
class of forms and that the taste, even though 1t DC
Aeetinp will bring them patronage. Painters KNOW
from long experience that with every year como
fresh demands for piping boys, girls i'll Roman cos
tume or old fIiaTs all with backgrounds nom Tie
Campacna; while the poor student working his way
toward masterslip finds that the Aurora and the
Cenci and ViOlm-playcr may be copied forever ana
ever Then. are there not models who know just
how 20 pose. always on handl Picturesque acces-
sorics at every turn Backgrounds rs fancy would
have them2 All these. with free unconventional
lfe and an atmosphere rarely disturbed by the ex-
elements of the world, WOO the artist to Rome
Yet for all others than artists it is naicotic at
mosphere An INTELLECTUAL malaria hangs over the
CITY, and all keen interest in the events Of the pres
ent day. all active sympathy with the living life of
the world with its thought its hope, and the strug-
Giles whereby it thrusts each new generation some
what in advance of the old, fade into languld
semi-activity, or arc forgotten altogether. Rome
never gave a truly great TO Italy; can recall
the name of no poet (eXccpt MestaSasiOl, painter,
philosopher, OF statesman who was born within her
walls. There are few stnulants to thought other
than the Past supplies. Production, OF course must
seek other channels and while il Is favored on the
side of sculpture and painting it is all the moro Sc
verely repressed the side of literature. The Official
censorship Of course cannot often tOuch tho foreign
resident in Rome but il seems to affect the very AR
ne brcathes. The magnetic currents passing around
the world are here benumbed.
70 one who wishes to occupy himself exclusively
l.
the wear and tear of life at home, Rome is delight
full place of residence. During the months of March
and April apartments are in great demand and con-
se0uen;ly dear: but those who arrive in November
or December intending to spend the Winter there,
will have 40 difficulty in getting good quarters at
reasonable prices. There is no good reading1oom,
and cannot be; at Pales even the universal GdignaEi
was conhscated about every third day. But there
are English groceries, English bakeries, English
"darics' where you pay more for milk, butter and
eggs than at the Italian shOps), and French and
German tailOrs. There is good American dentist,
Dr. Burridge, and-what is OF more Importance 10
Winter residents, an excellent American physician,
Or Could in the Via Condotti. The latter has been
resident of Rome for eight or ten years, and is,
therefore familiar with all the varieties of Roman
fever" which strangers are apt to dread more thar
Is necessary.
The bdHorie which carry extensive business
In sending meals in tin boxes with pot of charcoal
10 kecptbe dishes warm, nots good as they might
be | found them better in Florence and Naples.
Still one can manage TO live tOlerably in this way;
and the American who has physician and dentist
within reach. and two or three olergymen outside
tho walls on Sunday-wbo can hire a good eQupage
at very cheap rate, and drive in the Pamil or
BOrghese gIounds--whO secs his own cOuntrymen
and women everywhere. and can go every night to
new reception ifso minded. ought to be well salts
fled with Rome Indeed the American colony has
increased at such rate that it threatens to carry
with e our conventional city life. found great
MANY p6rsn."s whose tire seemed TO be mainly de-
voted to making ana returning calls giving and ac,
ccptng dinners and all the usual routine OF life at
home. For the permanent American residents this
change is no doubt agreeable but 1t interfores with
the aims OF those for whom visit 10 Rome is a
opportunity
Miss Charlotte Cushman "opens her house in the
Via GTcgorana to her friends every Saturday eYeQ-
-pg. aud one is always to meet there tie mem
crs # the foreign colony. OF passng travellers dis
ing, ished in Art and Li,.cratere. Mr. Hooker dur
ing ny stay, CAV, a reception to Admiral and Mrs
EHTse''s. for which several hundred invitations
we're .ssucd Mr.. John A. O. Gray gave o dinner 10
Mr.. Motley, and Mr. Buchanan Read another to
Charles Francis 40 ans. Then there were fox-hunts
in the Canpagna, races pIc-nics to Ostia, FTascat
and Veil and smaller breakfast and dinner parties
innumerable. How to combine these gayeties with
tho inspection Of galleries, lists TO the antiquities
aud participation in the re- gious solemnties Is the
problem which Americans ia Rome seem 10 solve
without fatigue. i must &C .less that it was more
than could do
Mr.. Story is manlfesiing creative activity which
must delight all who are acquainted with his noble
work. In bis studio one breathes the fresh air OF
Greece mot in weak "reminiscences Of the ancient
FORMS but in new creations wherein the imagination
Is Of our day and only the repose and proportion
belong to the art of all time. His "Sappho" II not
80 original the Libyan Sybil," is an equal sue
cess The yearning of hopeless love is expressed in
every line of the relaxed figure He is now at work
upon statue Of Penelope" which promises to be
one of his finest works. saul" and "Dallah.
embody more intense tragic spint, yet retained
within the true limitations Of sculpture The statue