New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-01-21
ART TREASURES UNEARTHED.

THE EXCAVATIONS AT ROME-A BUST OF CoMMo-
DUs, A BACCHUs, TWO TRIToNs, AND MANY
OTHER TREASURES RECOVERED.
An occasional correspondent of The London
Times has described the treasures which have been
unearthed the accumuatIons which the level Of
ancient Rome For three after the adoption OF
plan for the transformation OF the city into the capital
OF modern Italy few important discoveries were made
apart from the excavations the Forum. in the Baths
OF Caracala and In the Colosseum. During Christmas
week, however new Venus Of the purest Parian mar
bic and other Of art, discovered. The
correspondent says:
On Tuesday last some OF the wOrkmen employed IN
clearing away quantity sf fallen walls aud debris for
the purpose OF levelng the newly marked out streets
upon the Esqullne, split of OF earth with their
wedges aud it fell out rolled female head OF great
beauty The ceauness of the fracture across the neck
and the indications that the place had never been DIS
turbed since ruin covered IT. al once aroused e1peH.
whichever II might be. The Archaeological Commission
Immediately set its men to work, and within short
time a second nead-the portrait Of a man-was found.
then the beautiful nude body OF the nrs and directly
purest Parian marble had been discovered. BY TIM
lime II was dusk but the had become too excited
to think of leaving eff OF their own accord they got
found a bust Of Co mOdus altogether unique In art.
e across tts above the knees but With
the head and neck which had been scuptured sep
araey " ht into the drapery was nrst discovered ana
statues OF TIltOus as far az the human pOr
of monsters cOncefued-tnat Is, down 10
the hips They had not Deen broken on at tnat point
but terminated IN such manner as would lead TO
the inference the tails originally OF bronze.
Next the head Of another Venus was found and lmme
dately afterward . considerable portion OF semi
colossal statue OF Bacchus, which would also
seem to have been formed OF different materials The
portion discovered consists OF the head the right arm
0G 1Se The back sn vas ynt cut hs swp ECS
the time the work ulptured. IN order TO tit
left arm broken 6 al the shoulder has not yet been
found. On Thursday morning second draped female
aud NECK sculptured separately 10 ht into the
drapery; then two male legs which, from me similarity
proUaby formed parts of statue and lastly,
far the excavation has been carried the heads Of
Of Commodus. q head OF Venus, and a male portrait
head and legs, apparently portions Of the same
The gem OF pieces OF sculpture all found together
within HE or fe" square yards Is the venus as
called It's only claim however. To be considered
OF the Papnian divinity consists ike that
Of the Capitoline Venus, IN It's being perfectly nude
but Instead OF statue OF fully developed woman,
II Is that lovely girl Of IL To use the words ap
Piled Oy wnkelmanu TO the Venus de Medcl. lit is like
lovely rosebud bursting into bloom" and might not
napprOpnatey be called Psyche dld not the style or
earlier period than the date OF the fable
Ene stands with both feet upon the ground and close
together, the left o couple OF Inches further back,
with the heel very snghuy raised Ed, "A momens
easier position with the left knee bent forward aud
inward against the rght Her eis hand IL resting on
the Knot OF hair the back Of her head while her right
holds the hlet she has already passed several times
round In doing this she has swayed little over aud
down TO the right bringing left side forward The
well set back and the face IL turned to
the right anu htte downward showing from the front
not quite threeq quarter view The result Of this
ton most beautiful How or Hue from every point
OF view The modelling perfect, the contours have
that delicious softness given by the gradual yincreas
ing fuluess Of approaching Development together with
all the beauty, charm, and sweetness Of youth virgin
nv and innocence. Altogether 1t Is the most
perfect representation OF pure, unconscious girlhood
I have ever Deheld. On the ground at her right Is
what appears 70 be perfume D0x, Orname1ted
with flowers like daisies aud upon II slender kind OF
baluster, upon which her drapery has been thrown.
This Of course the support 10 the statue but
does NOT Intrue closely the leg The aud
drapery which support the Capitohne Venus. may
be some unduy impressed by the first sight OF this
thing of beauty, but l am inclined 70 think that II
will take rank above the Medcean Venus. Judging
IRON the execution, which Is slightly unequal, aud
which though good is inferior 10 tue beauty OF the
conception aud modelling there can be ltte DOUBT That
the statue copy, but from masterpiece The mar
be have said is Parian OF the rarest quality: The
statue Is broken across tue neck below the lett az
above right knee, and above tue left ankle. The
slightly broken al the TIP ana tAe right arm mas
not yet been found
The bust OF COmmOdus rs every way most remark
able work II is in reality half a statue with both
arms; but followed out at the back Ousts aud
stands upon pedestal. He 10 represented as Hercules,
draped the SKIN of the Nemean Lion. The upper jaw
upon the head, and projects forward Ike the peak
OF a helmet The fore paws knoted together upon
the breast and OF the hind paws hangs over the left
his shoulder ana in left apples OF Hesperiies
The pedestal which, though broken into several pieces
ELABORATE piece OF Workmanship It consists
Of eItptu', or shield like those carried led
moi nts and upon II a head Of Medusa Below this. and
rising at side of 1t, curved cornucope placed
ike e. Cross the lower ends passing on each
side OF giODe-beOw the shied-acrOss which IS zone,
with three signs OF the Zodiac in reef-raurus. sagt
trlus and and on each side or these aetig as
supporters, kneeng etatdettes OF Victories whcn
would measure about ID lncncs la
night The work not only completed WITH ali that
finish OF surface characterLes many WORKS OF me
Aufouuan period OF art but has received throughout
win the exception OF the hair the highest degree OF
polish marble is capable or IL Is scarcely an eAagsera
lion 10 say that objects are rejected IN Ike
looking class SOME portions Of the nous SKIN whicn
Ia uudercuI to excess and hngers OF tho left hand
are like the pedestal brokeD but all the pieces nave
baeu found The face however perfect, anh the nOse
intact There can mat III this Ouet we nave
-bcared as he IL represented-lnd nls portrait
as An M boy ia the Capisone Museum Is most
strlnuR TIero Ia the same narrow, Contracted pfn",
the same heavy upper eyend and tue same hal imhe-
c, halfhrut Al O. ure ,slOu TIC likeness also between