New-York tribune., 1902-07-23
ART NOTES.
THE CAMPANILE AT VENICE-MR. WAL
TERSs RECENT ACQUISITION
RUBENs IN BALTIMORE
THE MAGAZINES


The reconstruction of the Campanile at Venice
promises to be achieved with promptitude and
thoroughness Money for the enterprise is evil
Iently going TO be provided with little if any
6ificulty and Signor Boni, under whose super
vision the work will be carried out, is man OF
high repute who may be relied upon 10 see that
the new structure is placed upon firm founda-
tions and is made really fac-simile of the old
one The fall OF the historic tower naturally
lends new interest to the fragments Of infor-
NATION concerning it which may be CLEANED
from the literature of the past. 1t is recalled
that where the Campane stood huge elder
ts-- eace iourished, and in Mr.. Hazlitt's history
Of the republic there is a striking note on the
relation Of the building to the ancient punish
rnents in Venice. I'm the starving process" he
says, ''the conComned. having been led to the
Campanile, was there inclosed in a large wooden
cage with iron bars, suspended by a strong
chain from pole attached TO the building; and
he was fed on a diminishing scale with bread
and water which he received by letting down
cord $50 strong is the love OF lfeD, until the
unfortunate wretch. exposed to every weather
perished Of cold. hunger and misery" Mr.
Hszlitt refers also to another great disaster in
the history of Venice the great fire of 1877,
which broke out in the Doges Palace. The cpl
eode is thus recounted:
On the evening of the Goth December. 1877
owing 10 the ignition of the fiue of a chimney
IN a room contiguous to the Great Council
Chamber, q fire broke out at the palace, and in
half an hour, with the help OF a strong east
wind and the storage of a quantity of timber
and workmen's ladders in some of the saloons
spread with terrible rapidity, so as TO create an
apprehension that the entire block Of buildings
and their contents would perish Every article
of value which could be removed to place OF
safety was seized and carried of, some never
TO be seen again; and, in fact. of collection of
weapons and armor, kept in the decemviral sa-
loon upstairs, a portion. amid the hurry and ex-
cltement, was thrown into the Rio di Palazzo
The painful and tragical scene intensified
by the suspicion that the calamity the
suit Of incendiarism although no clews were
ever obtained and by the darkness which short
ly supervened. But the militia was called out;
the thoroughfares were cleared; one Of the Ad-
vocates OF the Commune and his coadjutors dis
lodged from the burning pile certain persons
suspected of being engaged in plundering; and
strong detachment of marines shortly arrived
from the Arsenal and eventually succeeded in
exunguishing the flames, when awful havoc
had been effected. and some Of the prisoners
had been liberated by the mob from their places
of confinement, or had escaped in the prevailing
confusion. A sensible proportion Of the salvage
had been taken ~ Basilica and the Mint,
tngs.
The damage was incaIculable ana exaggerat-
ed accounts were soon spread over Europe OF
the amount Of the losses. Philip II OF Spain
transmitted his hearty coincidence; and when
The Venetian ambassador assured his majesty
that matters We're not so desperate he declared
how very glad he was again. The government,
anxious to prevent its enemies from knowing
the full truth, lest they might take advantage
of the presumed loss of important documents
desired Its representatives everywhere TO paint
the catastrophe in subdued colors; and all per-
sons were commanded by proclamation to re-
store, under the heaviest penalties, whatever
had fallen into their hands. At the same time
10 the men at the Arsenal, who had done signal
service in reducing and stopping the mischief.
the Doge was authorized to offer bounty OF
300 gold ducats, which was refused. even when,
at his serenitys request. these noble fellows
carefully reconsidered their decision in confer
ence among themselves; for they said that they
considered not only their labor but their lives
TO be at the service OF their lords
The loss was European one. The full ex-
tent OF IT was never ascertained but that Il was
immense there is slight doubt. The Paradise
or Guar1ente was among the missing pictures:
and IL was the works Of art and the notarial
muniments which were accounted most irrep-