The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-10-05
CRACKS In VENICE
The Dangerous Condition of the
Doge's Palace Is Being
Attended To. ...
Valuable Library Saved by Timely
Repairs-A Tintoretto Fresco
Found.
London. Oct. 5.--The Venetian CORE

London. Oct. 5.-The Venetian CORE
spondent of the London Globe says:
The Italian proverb, "Tutto male non
viene per miocere" (Not every evil comes
regards the present state of affairs in
Venice. Had not the fall of the Campo
nile attracted attention to the condition Of
the other artistic and historical treasures
that are the pride Of Italy, still worse
indeed; irreparable, damage would have
been DONE Careful examination by new
men appointed by the government COM
mission showed that the Doges' palace
was in most dangerous condition; so
much so that, as all know, the imm ediate
removal Of the great Marciano library was
not only ordered, but also, wonderful to
relate, carried out. Meantime the ducal
palace, being lightened Of the tremendous
weight Of the books and there being much
to attend to turnout the city, matters were
being allowed to rest, and but for the
energetic persistence Of the Woe director
of the works, the architect, Signor On
caro-, irretrievable disaster to the building
would in all human probability have oc-
CURED. He insisted upon at once remov-
ing all the bookshelves and woodwork
which covered the walls, 50 as to see aid
to touch the walls themselves and thus
to make sure of their real condition. Hall
after hall was stripped and Quilted, with
the result that 1t was discovered that
Sighs-that called 1.-THE Fig Tree angle"-
and a good part Of the facade toward the
Rio Canontca, were in g. deplorable condi-
tion. Windows had been cut and door,
ways made without any regard to what
that part Of the wall supported. inches
were eXcavated where there should rather
have been put buttresses, and bowling
walls were held up by iron ties that, by
rusting, did but add to the damage they
were supposed to repair. Then another
danger was discovered. One now sees
that when the porticos OF the Fig Tree
angle were walled up, serious damage had
already appeared.
The repairs that are being made are
very radical. The news that the wall at
the last end Of the Sala del Grand Con-
s1gllo Is cracked like a broken eggshell
and that Tintoretto's great picture "Par-
ad1se.' has to be taken down for the wall
: to, be almost rebuilt. tends to fill one with
disnlay, and still more so to know that
the Paradise" itself is so damaged by the
damp from the cracked and half rotting
wall that It will have to be repaired also
OF the necessity Of the coming down Of
both wall and picture have no doubt for
have seen with my own eyes the shock
Ing condition Of the part of the wall be-
low the picture. found great cracks.
loosened bricks and crumbling plaster; but
1 also found something else quite unex-
pected-and that was a large portion of a.
very beautiful fresco by Guarriento. This
fresco, unknown to the many, and almost
forgotten by those who did know Of it's ex-
tstence, comes like discovery. It oriei-
nally covered the whole wall, but the up
per part was destroyed in the great fire
and when the palace was restored Tin
torettos paradise" was put in it's place.
The lower part, then hidden behind the
wooden lining, alone remains It is, of
course, much damaged, but enough exists
tlo
trace number of angels in marble inches,
with very lovely faces, and with instru-
ments in their hands. The folds of their
garments are peculiarly soft and diapha-