Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-02-04
MILDRED RUSSELL'S LETTER.
AIR STUDIES IN FLORENCE.


Nsx1 8rs~ses- Modern rsleupss "A social
Evess- llsaasems rslnsinss.
ESPECIAL correspondence Of the p!spasch.l
FLORENCE, January 10, 1885.
The holidays Of this season Of the
year are now a. an end, and Florence is
settling down to It's usual routine after
the plcasure-taking Of Christmas, New
Years, and, che greatest Of all, the
Feast Of che Epiphany. The 9th Of
January Is Q general holiday, and the
evening before the Italian children hang
baskets out OF the windows, hoping the
Kings Of the East or the good fairies
will put something in them; and no
doubt they are rarely disappointed. A
mission service Of two weeks is being
held in the Cathedral, and admonitious
ssrmcns delivered three times a day,
with the object Of stirring up the peo-
pie 20 Q strictcr observance OF the
ordinances of the Church and the cul-
tivation OF q deeper religious life.
Along two Of the huge arches and
reaching from side to side Of the nave
Of the Cathedral en- awning Of dark
green stuff has been temporarily
stretched, and a platform erected un-
derneath with prie .dieu and armchair
plnced upon il. The two or three times
have attended, the preacher, Father
Turchi, a man about thirty-fve years
Of age, wore black gown and bereka,
and bowed to the congregation on as
ccnding the platform, then said short
prayer at the priedieu, to which
they responded. He spoke with
earnestness and great fiucncy and
considerable dramatic effect, but
his powerful voice, restrained from
reverberating by the awning under
which he and his hearers stood, re-
sounded at the far end of the vast Ca
thedral as if pandemonium were let
loose. Not III the least disturbed by it,
he continued for about twenty minutes
with undated energy, and was heard
with breathless attention. Then he sat
down in the armchair for few min
utes. and the congregation, released
from the strain of listening, took the
opportunity of moving their chairs and
rustling and shutting about generally
till the preacher rose again, when per-
feet silence ensued. Sometimes there
are three pauses in an Italian sermon,
which seems TO me an excellent arrange
ment both for preacher and congrega-
tibn, preventing restlessness and giving
an opportunity TO the tired to withdraw
without offence to others.
THE NATIONAL MUSEUM
is good place to see some excellent
bronzes and sculpture. The BargellO,
in which the collection is, has more the
air of castle than palace, and was
appropriated TO the use OF the Chief
Magistrate OF the republic in early
times. The entrance hall. large, low.
vaulted room, has numerous shields aud
crests painted on the walls, and dis
play of armor and guns arranged in it.
II leads to magnificent court, round
which the palace is built, and where
the ascent is made TO the floor above
and the rooms containing the bulk OF
the works of art Numerous coats-of-
arms engraved in stone are on
the walls and adorn the archway
spanning the flight of steps to
be mounted. and prominent among
the rest is that of the Duke of Athens,
expelled in l342 by the people, indig-
nant at his trenching on their rights.
Passing by white marble figure of
man asleep in so natural a pose that we
are inclined TO tread more softly for
fear Of disturbing such peaceful rest,
we come upon set of bas-reliefs of
.Luca della Robbia's singing boys and
girls. They represent number of
children in the most natural, and there
fore most charming, curse. Their sweet
faces-some Of them earnest, others
gleeful-and their varied attitudes of
abandon and grace, fascinate every one
who has any love for their living proto-
types. A room full Of glazed terra
Gotta works by
THE R0BBIA FAMILY
affords good opportunity of studying
their styles, though nothing surpasses
Lucas singing children in attractive
ness. A bas-relief in bronze of gray
hound by Benvenuti Cellini looks as if
it were conscious of being the descend
ant of family of raee-winners, and
has q more sagacious look than most of
his species usually have. Giovanni da
Bologna's Mercury in bronze leaves no
doubt in any ones mind Of the winged
messengers capability of flying. His
natural element seems the upper air, and
so swift his movements that we feel if
We turned our eyes away a moment he
might be gone. He is evidently bent
on enjoying his expedition thoroughly,
and at the same time is Fastening with
right good will to obey Jupiter's
commands. The largest statue in
Florence is Michael Angeles David
in the Academy of Fine Arts.
II shows David as young man
in the prime Of youth, and not the small
boy he is so often seen. He is stand
ing calm and confident, conscious of his
own skill, and inspired with the cour-
age Of Just and patriotic cause !; with
his left hand he grasps the sling thrown
over his shoulder, and in his right the
pebble is ready, and he seems to be
waiting for the critical moment to throw
it and step to certain victory. There
are several collections of modern pic
lures by Florentine artists, which are,
Of course. for sale. They resemble the
French in style Of subject and treatment,
with perhaps greater softness of tone
and color. In the Gallery of the Soci-
ETY. of Artists, Costa has some young
ladies painted with simplicity of pose
and expression and perfection Of finish
that leave nothing 10 desire. Bradley
has some Venetian scenes rendering the
gorgeous coloring Of those brilliant
waters with vivid distinctncss, and
many Of the artists have works well
worthy Of quoting.
THE MAyoLlCA MANUFAcToRY
of Giuseppe Coutagalli is just outside
the Porta Romano, one Of the gates of
the old. wall recently demolished, and
is well worth visit. A novelty for
Christmas was Cupid in white glazed
ware, holding up shell for flowers; Of