The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-11-04

10 suit all ages and degrees OF skill In
swimming, No better-regulated aud con.
venleDt bathing-houses, with every neees-
sary safeguard, exist anywhere. In conse-
Quence, tbe Lido has become a fashionable
resort, chiefly for Italians and Germans,
while Americans also are we'll repre-
sented during the season. The mosquito
feet OF steamers that ply between the Lido
and Piazza $. Marco, so much to the dis
gust OF Ruskin, are cheap and facile
means OF communication between the city
and the beach, and give good deal OF ami.
nation to the otherwise too silent harbor.
III IL could be reserved exclusively to the
fisherman's ancient craft with their painted
sails, as they group themselves so bouquet.
like in pictorial perspective till they disap-
pear In the furtbest horizons, the artistic
effects would be more harmonious and COM
pleie without doubt. But the nineteenth
century has It's own theory OF aesthetics, and
we may as we'll get all the enjoyment posi-
bic out of it without breaking our hearts
over the decaying past.
found Mr.. Bunney still at work In his
usual place In tue Piazza S. Marco, on the
elaborate large painting OF the entire facade
of ST. Marks, including the angle OF the
Doge's palace, on which he has been en-
pIoyed several years by Mr.. Ruskin for his
Sheffield museum. 1t Il a work OF infinite
panstaking detail, and will be probably the
sole complete literal representation In color
OF this dream OF the seas. To those who
cannot see st. Marks with their own
eyes il will afford faithful mate
rial outlook OF pre- Raphaelite accuracy
OF design, and to future generations pre-
serve the present likeness, which both time
and restoration are threatening to alter
somewhat. And this, doubtless, is both
Mr. Ruskin's and the artists chief aim. No
modern artist has more thoroughly studied
the varied phases and moods Of Venetian
atmosphere and architecture than Bunney.
For ten years he has stayed like senti-
mel at his post, noting and catching
every change of Writer and summer skies,
and the marvellous play OF colors that
give such magical effects TO the city and
lagOOns. Among his hundreds OF spirited
studies there are none more striking than
those OF Venice during the heavy snow
storms OF last winter, and the ice-bOund ca
pals, which were the heaviest known for 200
years, and turned the whole city and bar
Dor into an Arctic region, whose appear
ance, however creditablc to ST. Petersburg
in January, was most strange and an0ma-
lous for the delicately-rearcd Queen OF the
Adriatic amid its southern skies. | would
scarcely credit my eyes to see Bunney's
sketch OF SIS. Gioreio Maggiore taken from
his front windows, on the Ponte Veneta Ma
rina, during binding snow-storm, dimy
outlined through the fleecy flakes, in spec
trsl shape, or the Piazza s. Marco piled
three feet deep in snow, and the pinnacles,
domes, and arches OF the cathedral mantled
in glitterng frigid white. Venice, em-
balmed in snow, and gondolas, ice-bound
in her canals, are quite contrary to received
ideas nevertheless, these pictures, so dis
malIy true to nature when taken, bear wit
ness that her existence, like that OF human
beings, is far from being perpetual poelical
sunshine.