The Wichita daily eagle., 1895-02-21
THE PoPE's RESERVATIONS.
efescoes in the Vatican Brought to Light
After Long Ohliteration.

After Long Ohiiteration.
To Leo XIII. is due the correction of
an act of vandalism that. apart from
everything else, should make his name
respected in the mind of every lover of
art throughout the world, for it shows
the refined tendency and the progress
sive ideas that animate him. The
department in the vatican that was
occupied by Pope Alexander vi. is now
known as the Salon Borgia, and was
famous three hundred years ago for its
frescoes from the brush of Pinturicchio.
which were among the most beautiful
then. in existence, the most vivid in
their colors, the most graceful in their
composition. but the pOpes who sue
eeeded Alexander VI. were shocked by
the worldiness and beauty of these in
comparable mural adornments. and one
Of them, history does not particularize,
but il is safe to assume it was the very
first that had the opportunity, caused
them all to be obliterated by heavy
wash of solid color that concealed even
the outlines of that which had heen
the admiration in earlier years of the
artistic world. In addition to this out
rageous desecration bookcases were
put up against every wall, nails were
driven. and apparently deliberate care
.essness was INDUCED in to the detri-
ment of these frescoes.
But when Leo XIII. became the rul-
ing spirit his scholarly mind recalled
the former splendor of the Borgia
La la$a I'd -.
store its original appearance if it were
possible The vandalism of three hun
dred years ago would have appalled, a
less determined character, but the
present pope went to work with re-
solve that overcame every obstacle.
He had the bookcases removed, the
pavement taken up, and then he di-
rected the talented Seitz, superintend-
ent of the Vatican museums, to care
fully remove the accumulations of CEN
turies from the walls. This was done
with the greatest delicacy possible,
and soon sufficient space was cleared
to disclose the grandeur of that which
had been lost to sight for so long. So
soon as the prevailing character and
roloring of the frescoes were learned
the pope caused a new floor to be laid,
made of faience, and which, in all re-
spects, would harmonic with the dec
Drations.
In the first salon, called the Salon of
the Popes, because of the names of
the many pontiffs that are inscribed
upon the walls, NJ. Seitz has
restored a series of landscapes in
delicate little frames all finished
with exquisite fineness, but. unhappily,
some of them are badly Clipped and
marred from the nails and other mutt
lations Of the walls. Between these
frames are handsome caryatides that
20 up to the frieZe. The decorations
in this room are by Perrin del Vaga and
Jean d'Udine.
The second salon is known as that of
of Pinturicchio. 1t is grand and superb.
Covering the entire four walls from
floor to frieze is an uninterrupted mass
Of painting that is unequaled in it's
richness Of color and the gorgeousness
of its effect. The scenes are apparent
~ painted upon a background of green
stuff, over which runs devious inter-
lacing and golden arabesques.
The frescoes of the third salon,
known as that of the Saints, are simple
and only remarkable because of the
fidelity of real tapestry.
The paintings of the fourth salon
have suffered more than any others.
and Hhus far they have only been able
to restore the outlines of the frames,
although sufficient of the pictures
themselves are seen to understand that
they were important and beautiful.
but this particular salon had been
transformed into museum: heavy OBJ
jects had been hung upon the walls,
necessitating strong hooks or nails,
and inscriptions had been mercilessly
cut into the plaster, and, of course, de-
stroyed whatever there was.-Phila
delphia Times.