The Portland daily press., 1900-03-21
Interesting Features of
the Cathedral.
Lake Trasimene Site of Hanni'
balls Victory.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l
Basls, Switzerland, March 9

Basls, Switzerland, March 9th.
Next to Rome, Florence and Venics,
Sisna is counted as the greatest art centre
Of Italy, and is visited with Gs much in
terest az any of the other cities. The town
is beautifully situated on three hills. 1t
was nrst settled BY tie Ssnonian Gauls
In Caesars time and was made Roman
colony by Augustus whence 1t derived Its
arms, the she-wolf and the twins, which
are everywhere in evidence.
Sisna was an important town in the
Middle Ages, the stronghold OF the
Hhibsllines, while florence led the Guelph
faction. A century later she We'd with
Florence in wealth and love OF art.
though she always adhered with tenaoity
to the early styles At this time the city
numbered one hundred thousand iphnbi.
tants. At present Siena furnishes many
instructive LESSONS In Italian Gothic ar
ohitecture OF the 18th and llth centuries.
Travellers usually visit Slena to study
the Cathedral, though the town Is full Of
curious old buildings and works Of ART
from mum berless oil masters. As health
resort In spring and summer like many
other towns perohed upon the hill tops In
Central Italy, 1t is uneoualled, since they
defy the burning breezes and malaria of
the marshes and valleys below.
The Cathedral of Sisna, like most of
those OF Northern Italy, Is composed OF
black and whiteImarble, the facade Of
this one being intsrspersed with tints of
red and decorated with beautiful sculp-
lures by different masters. 1t was de-
signed by Giovanni Pisano. The Cathe-
dral occupies the highest point OF the
town and stands ON the site OF an old
Temple OF Minerva. 1t was the design to
use the present building. enormous as 1t
is, for q transept, erecting an immense
nave which would have occupied all the
space In the vast square. Parts Of the
structure designed, were commenced and
now present the aspect Of huge and
beautiful ruin on the southside, which
adds greatly to the fine effect of the
whole.
One Of the most interesting features OF
the Cathedral Is Its extensive mosaic
pavement which consists of designs by
eminent artists representing scenes from
the Old Testament and in some parts the
old philosophers and in others the SYPHILIS.
These are Outlined in clear white marble,
1lled In with black stucco and shaded
with gray and oolorsd marble. Thers are
many interesting objects all through the
sdifios but the most noticeable point Of
interest is the Library, formerly called
the Ssla Pioolominsa. This is unique
apartment adorned with frescoes by Pin
turioohio, representing scenes from the
life of Aeneas Sylvius, secretary Of Fred
derrick Ill, and afterwards Pope Plus IL.
1t 10 said that Raphael assisted In exc.
outing these sketches, since ne was tor
some time in Siena with Pinturiochio.
One could spend many days In the Cathe-
dral only, out there are several fine gal
leries In the town, among them the Pal
ago Publioo. a queer looking building
with pointed windows divided with col
umns in the early Gothic style. Then
there is the House of st. Catherine and
the Opera del d'Uomo and several an
tique churches with pain tings, and the
Institute dele Belle Arti.
The last lie . gallery with paintings
typical Of the Siena school. When you
visit st. Marks In Florence you fesl that
in the frescoss of Fra Angelica you have
reached the climax Of the old. But after
spending an hour In the Belle Arti, you
realize that In comparison Fra Anglslico
had practical views concerning female
loneliness. For. as compared to the old
painters Of the Sienese school. he ideal
ICED the human figure to perfection. These
old artists had no idea Of form or per-
spective, but conscientiouEly painted their
simply her soul. Sano di Pietro. the Fra
Angelica of Sisna, evidently used one
face for the model Of all his numerous