New-York tribune., 1869-06-08
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
r,rVF,s FLORENCE AND VENICE.

though an apparently hasty translation OF tho sec
md part Of NJ. Henri Taine's Italy" the first oil
Ehich devoted principally to the cities OF Rome and
Naples. appeared about year ago. The same re-
marks which we then applied to the peeuharhes OIL
she authors method and style are equally pertinent
70 the present volume. H. TaiDe is travelling art
uitic whose Italy is peobled with the painters OF
past ages and who wanders through galleries and
shurches ia sort of ecstatc reyers. His criticism
Is acute, but over-eaboratc philosophical,
but often misty. He is an excellent
guide for those who can stand with
his book III hand before the paintings of which be
writes; but he lacks the descriptive power which
reproduce to distant eyes the creations Of the great
masters. He dwells upon scenery and works Of art
with marvellous elOQuence: the page glOws beneath
his burning pen: the mind of the reader Is carried
away by hls enthusiasm or swayed by his strictures
but the after impression left by the book is not
vivid one the scenes recur to us as great blur OF
glory One of the best sketchess this from tho Guy
Of Florence:
have just passed an hour on the square o. tfo to
"AnnunZiata," seated = flight Of steps OPlUSt. sn
me Is church, and on either sd1 81 th 80 kslfeoy-
hree with a Denstyls OF light hanrres5ss over
ntan soH%Gs teT%iA'tPs G03. 6 cid tie
the pure blue OF the sky, and 81 h & @ e. W sr%estSd
by round mountain within this frsIe so nsturaI s.u
NOBLE market stalls preteeseS ~ nn in yioIst
Ia ,TS ty ~ lars come and 20 ana buying sud
ssan there are f sfIEss Ss5ssSG by 81 misery
ana savage brutality; the people soe 70 pc ~ VEL
this Tariegstsd crowd and these open airy stalls
ises an equestrian statue, ana near thls, IouhVAn
pte' ,o6,a.s 9 T'tsTS sTs similar int to tsoo Of
but instead Of elashinK they harmonic The beautful
4 as original but incnes 70 the pleasing ana harm9n
ous and not toward dispreportsn and enormity. Io9
turn back beautiful stream Of clear water spctted
here and there with whito sandbanks noWs by the sue
Of magnificent qaay. Houses seeming Ito be palaces,
modern and yet monumental form bordering 70 IT, In
the distance You observe trees donRlng the hprhg N
aure soft and pleasing landscape Ike those OF tenn
perate climcs beyond. rounded suInmits ana MI,
Barren rocks Flsreneo lies in mountain basin like
statuee in the middle Of vast fon tain ana S s'9he
lacework becomes sygry under he bright user OF InS
evening reflections. You follow tho oourse OF thS TlNsI
and reael the Caseine Fresh green ana the aSneHse
tintings Of distant poplars naduste Wiah enarmmSS
sweetness against tho blue mountains. Tall trees anu
dense evergreen hedges protect as promenader ron
Tie north wind 1t - 20 pleasant on thS aPpIOAvn VI
Spring, feel ones self stirred by the frssA warm sun
ssHeen the Sudd.g 81 branches Of the boeehs on Inc
pale verduTe Oi tho lex, and on the slHeuht6O neeee
Of the pine Every between gray franks annated
with san are bIoeng tufts Shrvb6ery that have not
suecumbed IN winters sleep, and fresh blossoms COM
With color ssd fragrance The light Laurel prones its
grave tops against the bank, aS In picture while
the broad Arno TRANQUILITY expands iA rudy cleaning
You leave the city and ascend an emnense in order
vase in Which ID les nohing could be more charming!
Comfort and prosperity are appArent on al sSeS. .S
white spots rising absve each other from slope 10 slope
even the mountain nights on every deehVlty tAe
docks The soil is supported by walls, snd ferns Ter:
races. Mans intelligent hand converts all to prOnt and
at the time into beauty The soil. thus disposed,
assumes sn architectural shape; gardens are grouped
together stories among bsustrades statues and foun
nj abundant vegetation; < is only northern eyes that
need to feast themselves the universal softness and
snaicGs for the itSTaSs, and tSS noshSol1ng
furnishes them. according to fancy with beautiful White
Dr hush blocks sober and rehAed in tone. They arrange
them nOby in symmetrical lines; the marble fronts OF
the houses gsten in the ransparent atmosphere accom-
here enjoy sunshine in Winter and shade in Summer,
while the eye idly Wanders over the surrounding
Afar IN the distance, gateway is soen, campanile
and church. This Is San Aniato situated on NIL ana
developing facade OF vaeEated marbles This s
Of the Oldest churches in Florence, belonging to the
latin basca, capitals almost Rrocan and light polished
shafts bearing round arcades. The crypt is similar
There is nothing lugubrous about Overourdened
sver the upspringng column terminating in harmonious
curves FlOreutiRe architecture from tke very nrst
solid forms Early historians call Florence " the noble
city, the daughter OF Rome" It seems as u the melan-
ehOly spirit OF tho middle ages had only gded over H.
She is elegant pagan Who sooR as she rst
declared herself at first tmidly and afterWard openly
elegant and pagan
As fair specimen of art criticism take she follow
ing remarks upon the frescoes Of Ghrlandao in the
church of Santa Maria NOvella ct Florence:
They are poorly lighted and awkwardly piled up on
top each Others but toward midday they can De seen
ey repressnt Of St. John the Baptist ana the
Virgin the figures being half she size Of life Through
education well instinct this painter Ike his ootem.
porsries is oopyist lie sketehed people while passing
his godsmiths shop and the resemblance or his ngures
excited admiration lie regarded painting as Wholly
consisting Of drawing" Man. 70 the artists OF TINS
epoch Is sim oHly form; but he had so Just sen
timent Of this FORM and OF al forms tSat on copying
drew them accurately with the eye as II with CON-
pass. Thus prepared one oan readily see Nhat sPeaA
smsS nS are F1ov9 chr9secforo LSndin Fcn PotSn
he ~ others
tifu Gnsvra de- BoDci. ell belonging 70 families control
ling the patronage OF the chapel The figures arc little
eDnmouuace; several Of them hard and have sharp
noses and literal they grandeur the painter
the surface IL is not the bold flight of hasceiO Mover
thees he eomposes groups aud ne arrahges
gures in circular sanctunries he drapes them IN ha
Forentne haGreeian costume which unites or opposes
IN happy contrasts and graceful harmGne tne anuque
and the mOdern above al TINS nc Is simple ana shcIe
An attractive moment this delicate aurora consisting
Of that youthfunSsS OF sPt in which man hIt IeeGg
1hat does not express persona senument WhAeyer be
relates he has experienced thSre Is no
which bodies forth IA conventional beauty the puddne
aspirations his breast; the greater his nmdty the
more VlxaeosS no % ~ tS discreet sonfsSTons OF new
.prt which darcs neither 70 escape from nor reserve
Itself One might pass hours here In contemplating the
ngures Of the women they are the flower Of the city
In the fifteenth century; We see them as they lYeo,
irTeguIarty Of real life; ali with those hafmodOrn
haffeudal Florentne features 80 animated ana so
young gin in a silk Skirt, who comes in on visit, is
the plain demure young lady OF good conditon IN the
duchess near her the bringing fruits in statu
6sque drapery has the impulse VVacy and force OF an
antique nyInph, the two ages ana the two orders OF
beauty thus meeting and uniting in the simplicity Of the
true sentiment fresh smile rests their lips
underneath their semiiInmObllty under these remains
Of rgidty which imperfect painting st leaves,
divine the latent passion Of an intact spirit and healthy
body The curiosity and reinementof Interior ages have
reached them. Thought With theIn sumbers; they
walk look straight before them with tie GOODNESS aud
placidty Of vIrgna purity In vain viii education with
AL It's animated eleRancies rival the divine uncOuthness
Of their gravity.
OF Venetian art NJ. Taine writes in the following
enthusiastic strain:
When after quitting Venetian art tries TO gather
up his IMPRESSIONS into complete whole he is Sensible