New-York tribune., 1902-07-15
THE CAMPAYILE OF ST. MARKS.

1t is scarcely an exaggeratiOn to say that the
collapse of the Campanile of st. Marks involves
a greater loss to the worlds picturesquenesS
than would flow from the similar destruction of
any other historic monument In Europe Ihls
is explained by the special significance which
the tower enjoyed as part Of unique ensemble.
1t had definite uses and intrinsic merits as
work of art. Begun early in the tenth century
and completed in the form familiar TO modern
eyes in 1891, it served for centuries the purpose
of a bell tower and lookout. In the troubled
days of the ancient republic it was of practical
service 10 the rulers of the latter and in more
recent times unnumbered tourists have climbed
the inclined plane which took the place of
staircase, for the sake of the magnificent view
of the city and the lagoons The rather incOn-
gruous building at the base Of the tower was
once guardhouse.
Artistically the Campanile was a noble struct-
ure, as finely propOrtioned a piece of archi-
lecture as Venice ever had to show. Bronze
statues of Peace Apollo. Mercury and Pallas
adorned it, and it possessed some handsome
eighteenth century doors, also in bronze. But.
beautiful as this historic building was in itself,
it gained enormously in effect through its
position in the famous Piazza, where it formed,
with the Cathedral, Doges' Palace, Library,
Clock Tower and arcade, n group which both
as to form and color was incompatible for a
blending of monumental dignity and almost fan
tastic picturesqueness The exquistely grace
full though severe lines of the tower, the sim
plicity of its surfaces and the sObriety of its
colors were all in the happiest contrast to its
environment. 1t accented in just the right way
the sumptuOus background provided by the
Cathedral with its domes and arches, and SO
majestic it in its soaring grace that it
enhanced the grandeur of the scene in which II
figured. 1t is difficult TO imagine the aspect OF
the Piazza without it. and infinite regret will
be felt over its loss throughout the civilized
world.
Painters will bewail the disappearance of a
motive which, although exploited over and over
again for centuries. never lost its pOtentalties.
Even the least artistic of travellers will be sad
dened by the destruction of a building which
conveyed to eyes trained and unframed alike
an impression Of magical beauty. The struct-
ure had been damaged before and had been re-
stored. Doubtless the italian Government will
be quick to see the desirability of restoring it
once more, from top to bottom. With modern
methods of steel construction available it is
within the range of possibility that inside of a
year another Campanile, more less a fac
sme of the old one will greet visitors to
Venice 1t will probably contain elevators, and
until the winds have had ume to subdue its
colors it will look as modern outside as Cam
panile with steel core, and with elevators,
might be expected to look. Indeed, some gen
eratiOns would have to pass before the tower
could be made to resemble its predecessor in
anything like a satisfactory sense. Even then
there will be something irrevocably missing,
the tone and the atmosphere, impossible to de-
fine which did much to make the building
that we mourn one of the architectural gems of
4I,o 20, ;Io L.
built: but we shall never cease to lament the
old one.