Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-08-25
FIRST EDITION.
FROM FLORENCE.

| ON THR BANKS OF TIE ARNo-ART AND ARTISTS |
| THE PRoTEsTANT oEMErERY-A LEAF FROM THE
oDoRE PkRKERs oRAyE-HiRAM POWERS STUDIO, |
| ETC,, ETC.
From the Commercials Special Correspondent.
FLORENCE, ITALY, Aug. %.
write from Florence, on the Arno, really. for |
| it flows Just under our windows, and the lights |
| on the continuous stone quays which border it |
| like canal and on the bridges and among the |
| trees make a scene OF fairy-like beauty. Every |
hilltop is glistening with hundred twinkling
ighte, and the long streets Of the city are scenes
| of brilliant splendOr.
Michael Angelo lies buried in the church Of
Santa Croce Theodore Parker sleeps in the
Protestant cemetery Just outside the city, and
have pressed an ivy leaf from his grave. The
best works OF the former are in Florence, in the
Medici chapel; those Of the latter are in the
better lives Of the people everywhere.
Perhaps it is lack of educated taste, but can-
not like Michael Angeles sculptures half 80 well
as can his canvas be seems to be wonderfully
| exact in his anatomical knowledge, but also 70
have expressed 1t at the expense OF grace and
beauty. There is certainly no need Tor hgure
representing Night, thst one would think should
| he in perfect repose to lie in such an uneasy po-
sition with all the tendons and muscles IN bold
relief. It is only when in action, or tension that
they should be no fnly developed, and such rep
There are gems Of rare beauty and value be-
sides those of the sculptors art, III tine Medlcsan
chapel. Such emeralds, pearls, Jasper ana ONYX
such columns of purphyry and oriental aiaoas-
ter such mosaics OF verd antique and lapts la-
zuli and every stone imaginable, as would turn
| a iewelers' head II was more like story In
Arabian Nights than anything we nave seen Inc
| pitu Palace in magnificent too, but the beauty
there is utilized and noderntzed II rvals tne
royal palace at Vienna, and in some respects ex-
cells it possibly. The gallery OF pictures Is very
fine, containing many works worthy OF more
study than we could possibly give them in our
short visit.
We were at the Udiz gallery also, but It is such
wilderness OF pictures and statues each inner than
= the other, that we raced past, only snatching
hasty idea of q savage mild-boar beside, some
recumbent venuses, (by Titan though and that
saves them.) drunken Silenus aud haph~l
Madonna, the Youthful st. John, wnlch can
see whenever shut my eyes, aud the world
| famous Venus de Medicl. which Thought must
| like but did not, so stepped and studied II
awhile. 1t grows better with acquaintance 10
certainly beautiful and graceful, but " is VAIN
and self conscious beside the pure ideal OF Cano-
| va. -. A.
The other celebrated pieces OF sculpture, the
7 Dancing Fam. The Slave Whetting his Knife and
/ the Young Apollo. with the Wresters are al tnas
u one expects think and are really splendid works
4 finished and complete in idea The author OF
= every ono OF thom must have felt that ne conlo
- die in peace having given to the world such
satisfactory expression OF ms tno1ghts . silu ~
= himself for good statue is not only the repre-,
q" sentaton OF one idea, but it is the impress ol
a many-of the whole inner being OF anthor,
. Florence is indeed beautiful city, or WIDE
10 streets nicely paved. fine buildings, long ane
, lonely drives sweet homes and | suspect rlct
cultivated people, or course we have no oppor
- y tunity to judge Of the society IN such a mast!
D. visit but We have all heard of the delights OF
winter in Florence Out on the oascino or park
there is a throng OF gaily dressed people in mn
ednipages, who drive from one carriages u
Ct another and make calls and exchange witty m re
al marks and compliments like scehe at a PAL
m FIower girls and flower boys carry round boquet
in and nrgu YOU to buy, and how can you retue
)n when they plead 30 beautifully, with such sol
on ewes and sweet voices and the pinks are 30 love
he " and 30 fragrant Surely none ever grew +
h fine as in Italy. - - -
by Aud Hiram Powers is dead aud.lies In the sam
IN beautiful cemetery as Theodore Paraer and Mr.
III Rrowninp. and Frederic William the unfortuna
King of Prussia, aud mtAy other ILo'osean ea
ng OF all natonalities who from here have passe
ef' To the esther shore " leaving their names
lg. phostly company to people this great and beat
as tiful city on the hillside where the trees waV'
lse and the shadows fall, and the castle-croWne
biI1s around look down watchfuly over it sleel
ing below. | hnow OF no lonelier spot 10 he NJ
i of one where the silent communion OF the ued
al has more Of the Hgnitcance OF NE anu eymP
er- thy in it than here, for in country where pr
er | testanta are alike under a ban, there must Do
ipi- ciuser sympathy between them, tnan where "
ger have only their own differences to thnk Oh ahu
mi contend with and II seems hs IhouBn o'eh
Dot- death their dust must be stirred WIN son
ties feeling OF pleasure at kindred companionshl
the Powers son &c Ilptor also, Ia in his fathei
uc- stndio. Coming out from his work, wlthO
ked coat OF yest he gave the most polite and klhu
ler welcome to some of our party who called thel
rain showing them the clay model to Whlch ne "
in- giving the last touches before passing IL 10
hands of the cutter lovingly calling attehtl
to the masterpieces OF his father' the ure
Slave, California, and some lovely bnsts sho
ant ing them the favorite tree planted by hin, wh
isco | vel hourlshes though the hand when tehdeu
cell is cold and gathering some flowers IIoui =
ing. | ward for the Americans who showed respect
viii his fathers memory by calling.
nae. Jewelry shops, full Of mosacs. alternate
Ind. W indoWs filed with aabaster hgures pretty
MORT choice, but for which they ask unusually IL
verv prices Indeed We have found the cheapnest
ONE really line articles quite exaggerated We ~
left TO pay for things according to their fui val
NIT | the cheapness Of labor here, making the o
this d,fference in price between here and at hon
;rn. and they have learned to ask great deal, o
though in order to make sale they may reu
their demands considerably. 4,
II seems to me that the travellers anu u
A., needs make the principal business ior IN
@ to towns if it were not for the picture-steIes,
i tho iewelry shops, the hotels and the carrlst
' aeh' the fruit-s stands and the markets when are
lcho, so we'll patronized directly or indirectly Dy
were Travelling public their sources of revenue VIC
Ion- he small Florence, however, is much
item. po rniaii i Al, n,.st of those southern tow
etary "iue-A"aAe '' L. '