The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-23
THE CNUMBLING OF VENICE.
DANGEROUS CONDITION OF THE
DOGF'S PALACE.
Walls Cut Into Like the Campanile -TintO-
ettO's Paradise Needs Repalrs-Dld
FrescOes Found Behind list. Marks
Library Moved to the Xecca.
From The London Globe.

From The London Globe.
The Italian proverb -Tutto male non viene
per nuoce.e" Not every evil comes to do US
harm) is certainly most true as regards the
present state of matters in Venice. Had
not the fall Of the Campanle attracted at
tention 70 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
the Government Commission showed that
the Doges Palace was in most dangerous
condition 80 much so that, as all know.
the immediate removal OF the great Marciana
Library was not only ordered. but also, won-
derful to relate. carried out.
For the convenience Of students the books
most generally in use were transferred to the
Nicoletto Chapel, which divides ST. Marks
from the Ducal Palace court. and the chapel
and some adjacent chambers were trans
formed into temporary library and reading
rooms. The rest of the volumes were then
carried across to the ground floor Of the Zecca,
the new seat of the Marcana, which is rapidly
being prepared for its reception. Thus
the Marciana returns TO its birthplace. for
Petrarch's books. bequeathed by him to the
Republic. and which formed the nucleus
OF the present priceless collection. first found
house room in a portion of that building
and it was to give that nucleus a worthy home
that Sansovno's beautiful building, wrecked
BY the fall of the Campanile. was erected
Meantime, the Ducal Palace. being light
ened OF the tremendous weight OF the books
and there being so much to attend to through
out the city. matters were being allowed to
rest, and but for the energetic persistence OF
the vice-director OF the works, the architect.
IN - ,tshN pl on hn
Frari Church | wrote last year, irretrievabe
disaster to the building would, in all human
probability, have occurred He insisted upon
at once removing all the bookshelves and
woodwork which covered the walls. so IA to
see and to touch the walls themselves, and
thus TO make sure Of their real condition. He
was strongly opposed There were so many
other things to do But he persevered. and
hall after hall was stripped and Quilted, with
the result that 1t was discovered that the
whole corner toward the Bridge Of Signs
that called the Fig-tree angle and good
part of the facade toward the Rio Canonica,
were in n deplorable condition. Windows
had been cut and doorways made without
any regard to what that part of the wall
supported Niches 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.
though one would have thought that it was
patent to all; but all who look do not see,
People who knew Venice twenty years ago
will remember what pleasure IL was to US
all to see the five or SIX last arches OF the
porticoes at the Fig-tree angle liberated from
the ugly masonry with which they were closed
in, and which We're. in truth. terrible blot
on the loneliness OF the sea-front facade
M
perhaps it was not very wise improve
nent, for the iron ties, which We're supposed
to 40 me same p %s r 6 ea ntn sr
brick partition and the outward pressure
Of the mass OF masonry on the columns is
pulling the bricks through which the ties
''Ilfh There ere Is no doubt ! think, that the whole
"sea-storey" as Ruskin calls it. was free
four series OF arches, and columns, as one
sees in Moorish buildings IN later years
the outer arches were walled OF to form
S the shen he pS nasT OF f.. s
tree angle were walled UP serious damage
had already appeared.
The repairs that are now being made seem
radical. 1t is relief in the confusion that
reigns in the matter Of the Campanile that
here at least al goes sss on well The news that
Consiglo is cracked like broken eggshell
and that Tintoretto's great picture of Para
disc has to be taken down Tor the wall to be
almost rebuilt, tends to All one with dis
may and still more so TO know that the Para
disc" itself is 80 damaged by the damp from
tho cracked and half-rotting wall that IL will
have to be repaired also. One trembles to
think what the restorer's hand may do to IT,
OF the necessity OF the coming down of
wall and picture have no doubt, for have
seen with my own eyes the shocking condition
OF the part of the wall below the picture.
The great wooden dais, with its throne and
seats, wooden wall lining. which stands
below Tintoretto's picture, when | was there
last had been pulled bodily forward. being
visible rollers, so that 1t might be run for
ward for cleaning purposes got permits
sion TO go behind 10 examine the wall.
found great cracks. lOOsened bricks. and
crumbling plaster but ! also found some
thing else quite uneSpeCted-and that was
n large portion of Il very beautiful fresCo by
Guarrento, a celebrated painter born at
Verona, who lived and painted in 1900
This fresCo, un known TO the many and
almost forgotten by those who did know OF
its existence, comes like discovery II
upper part was destroyed In the great fire.
and when the palace was restored Tntoretto's
Paradise" was put in its place, The lower
part, then hidden behind the wooden lining
alone remains. 1t IL, of course. much dam
aged. but enough exists to make one regret
the rest One can trace number OF angels
In marble inches. with very lovely faces
and with Instruments In their hands. The
folds Of their garments are peculiarly soft
and diaphanOus. The angels seem circling
round central throne. but. unfortunately,
II. The faces nre marvellously drawn and
AAV0 an eyDresSlon of inInifa awcetnean