New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-09-09
PERUSIA AUGUSTA.
THE UMBRIAN TOWN IN WHICH RAPH-
AEL WAS TRAINED.

A RELIC OF MEDIAEvAL ITALY-PERUGINO AND
HIS GREATEST PUPIL-THE SCENES THEY
KNEW AND THE PICTURES THEY
PAINTED-A UNIQUE ITAL-
IAN LANDSCAPE.
Perugla, August I.
In no Italian town is II easy escape the
medieval atmosphere. but the difficulty is per-
haps greater In Perugia than anywhere else in
the peninsula Other towns, like Orvieto and
Voterra. are perched upon lofty mountain crests.
The great and famous rival Of the town. Sicna,
in the neighboring province Of that name. Is
moro richly endowed with monuments. and has
far more beautiful duomo But Perusia
Augusta. as the Romans nobly styled 1t. is the
most symmetrically preserved Of ali the old
Etruscan towns. 1t rises out OF the Umbrian
plain like fortress whose walls and battle
ments Nature herself had made, and 1t is ami
mated by towers and Companies that are OK the
very essence ot Italian pcturesqueness. It's site
IS peculiarly beautiful. in a country whore every
town seems happily placed The fertile slopes OF
the mountain on which Il Is built stretch down
into the wide valley and carsy the eye far away
II Assist Spello and FoligIo little white towns
that shine Ike phantom places In the violet haze
that envelops everything. Pcrugia dominates
them all, now. IN the days when Braccio
Fortebracco. Pope Julius the odd and the Bag
lionl made II stronghold Of medieval war
fare. II IS the capital Of the province and wears
many signs 0f prosperity. The scene before the
Prefecture. on the terrace overlooking the valley.
Is as gay and crowded on Sunday and Thursday
evenings. when the band plays would be ex
pectei u much larger town. In many ways.
and especially in the activity and we-being of
It's people Perugia seems a modern city.
But NJ better proof of Perugia's inextinguish-
able mediaevallsm could be desired than the dis
pute which was graphically described to the
writer last night by an Italian Deputy. who has
known the town for many years. one Of the
finest monuments there is the impressive Palazzo
Pubbco. erected in he thirteenth and four
tcenth centuries. 1t is a beautiful example Of
early Italian architecture, tastefully decorated.
and with the grim fancy OF the time strklngy
recalled by the exhibition II certain chains and
gate bars wrested In battle from Siena In 1883
The facade adorned by these trophies confronts
the principal piazza, where grand fountain by
the Pisani. stands: and its portal Is gained
by TWO flights Of steps running parallel
platform. Around these steps bitter war has
wagcd. dividing the town into two uncompromis
ing parties This war began some eight or ten
years ago when the single flight OF steps then
existing was about to be restored 1t was a
modern staircase. and no records were available
to show whether It was correct version Of the
original or not TIL only old picture treating
the palazzo. a wo:k by Berede,to Bonhgli. OF the
as to the particular detail under discussion
Arguments arose in camorous discord. Half the
town elected for broad. single flight Of steps
"a I'm all probabi ty The kind Of approach In use
when the palazzo was new The other half in
sisted with equal Yehemcnce upon two separate
flights. placed the same distance from the wall
and meeting at the top on the platform afore-
said The two-nght parsans only half pre-
vailed with an rrbanlty that seems delightfully."-
antique IN these arbitrary days the municipality
erected two flights ca steps in wood as expert
ment pending a final decision. which has not
vet been made, The matter lies at present
the hands ~ the Government. and the leading
Of Italy have been called I'm to
give their opinions The Perugni. meanwhile
keen the subject ire sh by squabbllng over it
whenever the opportunity comes. They take as
many political measure cf the profoundest local
inheritance The episode recalls the brightest
times Of the Renaissance when civic pride was
famed to high pitch Of enthusiasm
This struggle over the steps OF the palazzo Is
also characteristics OF Perugia in the sense OF
and determination 1t conveys. The
Peruginl were intrepid and indefatigabe nghters
Their blood washed the steps of the Fonte Mag
t0N Ia a
u the greatest passages in the history OF the
town Is its gift OF the Umbrian school OF paint
ing 70 the world; Of Perugino and. through him.
u Raphael. Here. at n time whensevery narrow
street might have held an ambuscade; when the
Corso was planned on A straight line so that can
non might sweep II from end to end and when
the city was resoundng increasingly with the din
y conflict there nurturcd and developed
some the most influential artistic talents In all
Italy The contrast has been repeatedly marked.
bur no one will ever be deferred thereby from re-
turning 10 1t again. The interest is inexhaustibe
IN the spectacle ~ Raphaers young genius trying
is wings within ten PAGES Of the bloodiest scenes
II war and personal feud. There Is preserved In
tho suppressed convent Of San Severe his first
mural decoration. a fresco OF the Trinity. with
saints and angels filing out the design IL was
Executed in 1903 shortly after the termination or
Raphaels studies under Perugno. but II gives al
ready the clearest possible prehgurement Of his
natured art In the ingenious yet eXqusitely re-
ooseful and dignlied disposition OF the figures.
Il is with the same profound sense OF balance
hat he is found later executing the frescoes OF
The StanZe and the lovely Sbyls OF ST. Maria
leila Pace Where this fresco bears most closely
lpon the question Of his Umbrlan training and
Is In its perfect expression OF
,uavity and sweetness. not alone In the express
sion. bat In the handling Of the draperies and
orms. Perugino himself never surpassed Raph-
lel here. In the preservation Of a certain calm.
scarcely definabe tenderness II was n serenity
md purity ~ tone which never left him. and
me OF the most interesting lines OF analysis TO
ollow In the presence OF his later work touches
he unfaling power OF his Umbran rain to re- |
train. 10 humanze and 60 Slorify the deep
science and mathematical faculty OF his prime.
The most salient element IN Raphaers fres- |
'Os quality that makes the latter far moro |
uggestve than the most spirtualized OF his Ma |
lonnas. Is his constructive genius. No one ever |