Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-03-25
MILDRED RIlSsEII'S LETTER
THE HUsEU4 or SCULPTURE
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Lest.
Especial correspondence Of the Dispafh'i
ROME, February &c 1889.
Our stay in Rome is drawing to
close. so we have been trying to utilize
every moment and see as much as pos
sible. We have spent one or two days
at the Museun of Sculpture IN the 'ati-
can palace, which equals the pictures
in reuown and interest. To reach IL
the tour Of st. Peters has to be MADE
and one morning, starting from the Ia
cade. I walked leisurely the whole way
round. and was rewarded by being able
20 form more accurate idea OF the
enormous size Of the Cathedral, ITS
height and solidity. all OF which
are seen better from on foot than rom
a carriage and are also rendered more
impressive. The museum itself is d.
vided INTO many departments and IS so
extensive that at first it is bewildering.
Owing to some repairs being made just
now the Court Of the Pine Cone, usual
ly closed. is open to admit Of access to
one department. 1t is pretty square
court. and contains the huge stone pine
cone believed to have originally sur
mounted the Mausoleum Of Hadrian, a.
building long since fortified and con-
yerted into the Castle of st. Angelo.
APOLLO BELvIDERE.
The Apollo Belvidere gives its name
10 another court. He stands erect and
noble, yet almost quivering with lndig-
nation at the sacrilegioas plundering oil
his shrine. he has flung his cloak over
his shoulder with the impetuous move
ment common TO all Italians in mo
ments of excitement, and perhaps to the
Greeks and his arm outstretched, he Is
full ofhorror and anger at the presump-
ton of the desecrating barbarians, but
| vet outwardly calm and self-restrained
as becomes a god. ! could not help
thinking that, furious at the sight Of
the miserable limitations of him that are
to be met with everywhere, his incensed
names must be stalking the earth
with even greater Indignation. The
LAGOON is a miracle when considered
as a representation Of bodily suffering.
This priest of Apollo, punished by
the offended god, is succumbing to the
terrible grip of the avenging serpents,
having exhausted all his strength in en-
dcayoring TO free his sons and himself
from the folds which are wound round
them and almost bind them together.
The deadly strife he has gone through
is seen in his face as well as the sharp
ness of the bite which is cOnyulsing
every nerve of his agenized body. The
mental struggle is there, too, created
by the vain and frantic efforts he has
made to tear the writing, twisting crea-
lures from the limbs of his boys. On
his right hand the younger child has
fallen back, overcome by the sitting
strangulation his hand lies on the head
of the serpent that is biting his side,
as if at the moment when the spirit
was escaping from its torture this were
the spot of the acutest pain. The older
son has still strength to lift one foot
and make last attempt to wrench the
coils from him, but all is useless in
another moment the fangs that are
gnawing the fathers heart will loose
their grasping hold, and with subtle,
swaying bend seize him in their venom
Gus clutch.
VISITS TO THE VILLAS.
As the season advances the afternoon
visits to the villas become more and
more agreeable, and as they have each
a distinctive character there is no same
ness in going from one to another.
Some of the broad walks in the Villa
Ludoyisi are bordered hy high hedges
of yew and laurel clipped so as
to have fiat surface at the top
and dense foliage at the sides others
have low hedges backed by taper
ing expresses, and others, again. have
rows Of expresses thickly grown to-
gether. Smaller winding paths lead
into dells Of solitude, where peacOcks
strut and pheasants hide themselves.
and where distant clock striking the
hour sounds clearly in the quiet, though
the city din surrounding it is inaudible.
These gardens are within the city walls,
and reach up to them, and their shelter
is used to protect forcing-houses and
sun-loying plants. There are rows Of
orange and lemon-trees bearing bios
SONS and fruit, and i'll one part, screened
from the rest by evergreen forest trees
F, and thicketS. cattle Craze undisturbed,
as if they were in the depths of the
country.
AN AVIARY.
Towards the opposite end Of the gar
dens there is pavilion used as an
aviary, which contains a collection Of
handsome tropical birds, and farther
on casino, or, as we should say, a
cottage. where the freSco of Aurora by
Guercino is to be seen. The casino is
shaded by forest trees, and has innu-
mcrable pots Of spring flowers on the
stone benches placed close against
its walls. The gallery attached to this
villa possesses IA renowned head of /uno.
which expresses a calm dignity and
womanlness that cntitle her not only
to be ranked queen of an imaginary
heaven, but also chief of matrons.
There is also Gaul who, having killed
his wife to prevent her falling into the
hands of his conquerors. is killing him.
self. They call up world Of sympa-
thy for vanquished hcrosm and faithful
love. and once formed part of the same
group as the Dying Gladiator or Gaul.
so much appreciated by Byron.
THE VILLA ALBANI.
The Villa Albani, Just outside the
Porta SAHARA. is. more artificial than the
others, and has the appearance of
villa designed for the recreation Of city
bred people of artistic and cultivated
taste and luxurious habits, and for
whom country home must combine
its own advantages without sacrificing
any of those OF town. The walks,
bordered with high evergreen hedges
trimmed with precision, and in most
places so thick that nothing can be seen
through them, shelter plots Of ground
where there are seats, statues, gardens,