The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1901-09-04
Rome.

huillcs
The various pieces of MOSAIC work
were TO me the most interesting things
TO be seen in the picture galleries. All
the pictures in ST. Peter are done in mo-
sale, though many of them are copies of
the original done in oil. The one most
noted is the TRANSPORTATION by Raphael.
The original is seen in the Vatican gal
lery, and is among the most noted of all
the paintings of the old masters, On one
of the pillars in st. Peter is a reproduc-
tion of this painting, but about one half
larger, done in mosaic, that to my eve
surpassed the original in beauty. An
other most remarkable example of mos
aic work is seen in a small room in the
Vatican Library. This is a life size pic
mre of Plus tx, placed before a window
with the light shining through bringing
out all the colors, and the tints OF the
flesh in most marvellous manner. The
material used is kind of coloied glass,
and in the Papsl mandatory of mosaics
there are said to be about 2S, 600 different
shades.
The Vatican picture gallery is entered
through a door just off the circular court
in front of St. Peter. A long flight Of
steps, 81 in number, called-Sala Regia,
forms part of the long, tedious journey
of nearly three hundred steps required to
reach the top floor. In this part is the
Sisune Chapel containing much of Mi
chael Angeles works. The ceiling and
walls are paneled ard progressive series
of Bible pictures cover the entire surface
AT the farther end, over the alter, is An
gelo's Last Judgment, sixty-four feet
wide and tnirty-two feet high. 1t is a
weird scene he portrays, but perhaps in
keeping with the conception of such sub
jects in his day. For reasons of nodesty
many the figures were retouched with
drapery by later artists. The incongru-
ity of this work makes it in parts look
ludicrous. The author has evidently
drawn on Dante and mythology Tor parts
of his conception and has given lurid
picture of the neither world. Most of the
paintings seen in the many different
rooms and divisions.of this famous gall
lery have religious themes. A few are po-
litical and some philosophical.
The Vatican museu II is of equal inter-
est to most people, to some it may be
mnra nlaaSinU Tb;S 10 sa;J - - a.. -
est collections of antiquities ever brought
together. One is almost bewildered and
the temptation to stand and look and
think about each piece is so great that
ones time is consumed before he has
made the rounds of the various depart
ments. To try to see every different
piece of statuary or every relic of antiq-
uity, however important and interesting
they might be, would be to 90 away
without clear conception of any. To
see every thing as it should be seen
would require time far beyond that
which had at command. There were
some pieces l wanted to see. By my
guide book knew where 10 find them,
and so simply cast glance here and
there as passed along till came to the
rooms where the famous Apollo Belve-
dere, LAGOON, the Two Pugilists and the
Discus rhrower were. The two first of
these, cut out of Pentelic marble, are
marvels of art. The perfect pose and
expression of Apollo, the clear cut out
line OF every part of the body, the end of
his robe falling down in folds from his
outstr6 ached arm so thin and delicately
traced that one can almost imagine he
sees it swaying in the breeze is work
that none but an artist of the very high
est rank could ever execute. 1t is
picture Of real beauty 1t attracts and
charms one. The effect produced is so
pleasing that one wants to sit and gaze
upon it realizing every moment his love
for the beautiful and true in art is being
developed and fostered.
Some pictures and slatuary bear all the
marks of the mind and hand of genins.
They are masterpieces of art but they
leave an unpleasant impression upon the
mind. Such, for instance, is the Lao
coon. There stands the father and his
two sons, one on either side. Around
their bodies and limbs huge serpelt is
itself with deadly coils.
They are trying to free themselves bat in
vain. Tighter and tighter 1t closes
about them. The expression # fear and
anguish on the fathers face is altos ether
while with looks of terror
the boys lift imploring hands to the
father for aid he cannot give. AS piece
of art it is sublime, so true 10 nature is
every part, so striking is the expression
brought out. But after all it is not a
statue one would care TO linger long
with. 1t makes one Green. 1t excltes
the mind but does not inspire it.
Across the way from the museum is
the library. A great deal of space is here
given to noted presents that have been
given to the various Popes, some of
which are exceedingly rich and beauti-
full. These of course we admired but
were moro anxious to see some of the
old manuscripts. There are about $4,000
of these here which are nearly all kept
under lock and key, so valuable and
precious are they. The most noted of the
manuscripts are those of the New Test
ament, in Greek, of Virgil and Terrence,
a small book of love letters written by
Henry viii of England 10 Anne Boleyn,
of Pliny, Dante, and Bocacio. We were
not permitted to handle any of these.
They were opened and kept in glass
case through which we might read only
little, if we could. Some of the party ex-
pressed desire to read Henry's love
letters to see what kind of an emotion
tile old rascal could betray.
The Pantheon iS tho host nrecaryad m