The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-01-18
PUT A STREET
THROUGH /
Beautiful Palace in Rome
Must be Kem0ddled.
OWNER Is IN AMERICA
An Exile Until the Changes
Have Been Made.
OWNER is IN AMERICA


himself with the weapon he loves mos
the camera-and is hunting the worit
around for picturesque views to add Il
his already large collection Enthusiastic
amateur that he is-for he has taken a
least fifty thousand negatives during thS
,ast eight years-Count PrimoH would
NOT be on this tour of the world IL II
were not for the fact that his home is
undergoing extensive alterations.
The Palais Primoli, which is built on
one of the most beautiful hills of Rome
must, by order of the government, yield
I'D a part of its lovely garden and court
for the sake of providing the public with
q broader street. Having lived in the
palace all his lfe,' Count Primoli cannot
bear to watch the destruction Of walls
and grounds dear TO him, so he left the
entire affair of reconstruction in the
hands of his architects land has started
on a two-year tour around the world.
At the end of that time the Palais
Primoli. smaller by several rooms and
boasting much less garden space than
before, there will be in readiness to re-
ceive its lord, and the entertaining life
of Rome will be resumed.
The beautiful Palais Primol has be-
longed to the house of that name since
long before Count Louis Primoli's moth
er, who was the Princesse Charlotte Bon
aparte, daughter of Zenaide Bonaparte,
became the Comtesse Primoli. The great
high walls of this old structure are hung
with exquisite brocades and tapestries,
which bear the stamp of the Napoleonic
reign. The marbl eiloors are strewn with
rich rugs, made 70 yield to the stately
tread of royalty. Thousands of rare books
are to be found in this interesting palace
and the ffry-two spacious rooms are
filled with swords. uniforms, nveries, fur
niture and innumerable souvenirs of the
home of Napoleon l.
The extensive and well known treasures
of the First Empire have attracted many
visitor to the palace gates, and Ameri-
cans especially have found Count Primoii
q delightful ana entertaining host.
One OF the ioveliest features Of the
Palais Primoli is the old Italian garden.
and here every Wednesday during the
first four months of the year it was the
custom of the Count to give entertain
took the form of plays and sometimes in
a darkened arbor the host showed a
series OF fine pictures taken by himself.
Then he described as they frightened and
faded on a magic lantern screen.
His favorite amusement, however. was
giving tableaux vivants. and many
sunny afternoon saw the beauty and
fashion of Rome, arrayed in historic cos
tunes. posing before the cameri of the
Count.
Besides the valuable collection of souve-
Mrs the Palais Primoli is filled with rare
and costly fabrics from every quarter of
the globe. TWO courtourieres. under the
direction of Count Primoli, fashion these
beautiful stufs into classic draperies, into
quaint and picturesque frocks or into gor-
geous toilets. No anachronism is permit
ted, even in the smallest detail. and every
ribbon, every band of lace, every fold and
line must pass the critical eye of the
When all is in readiness for the tab
leaux, fair princesses. clad in sumptuous
garb, with their hair twined with flowers
and crowned with garlands. step forth
into the historical garden and assume a
rcie in the outdoor revels
All this time the indefatigable photog-
fapher is not idle. He fits from group
TO group. arranging here, suggesting there
and always with an artists eye to the
Photographic effect.
1t is almost impossible to conceive of
more beautiful backgrounds and sur
rcundings than those which Count Prim-
oil lovingly describes as belonging to his
home. Flowers grow in profuSion, garden
walls are hung with them. labors are
laden with vine and blossom ometimes
huge rose trees are stripped of their frag-
rance to furnish a suitable screen. Great
hedges OF lilies are set up for madonna
effects, quaint swings are topped from the
snarled boughs of century old trees: ev-
cry nook and corner becomes a COM
ponent part of the tableaux.
When American women and Italian ar
istocrats TAX epart in the tableaux vi
wants I'll efavorite scenes are those repre-
q beautiful princess has trailed about this
senting the time of Napoleon and many
historic garden in a costume that once
adorned the beautiful Empress Josephine.
or perhaps in another which belonged to
the wardrobe of the Empress Marie lou
Use.
Even the servants wear the lveries |
which once belonged to the house Of Ma
poleon I.
II Is easy TO understand the inspirat,cn I
Count PrimoH i2ds- While spectators |
applaud the plc,uraslue charm Of Zach /
tableaux. he beholds it wi.h the keen
eye OF the thorough artists. To his mind
lines must not only be full of grace end
rhythm: they must be pleaSia-lv express {
sive.
Delicate and har-,onia..s as tie coIorine Z
may appear TO The rhse. ,er. the photoe
rapher knows that he cannot 5eDcnd on
the turquoise blue Italian SAY. on Ihe
frasrant pink ana white petsled hes
SONS. on the soft, cool ereea Of the trees
or on the mellow tints + palace aud esr- (
den wall alone for -ho charm II his pc (
lures Instead he mus5 sly upon COMB, !
sition, tone. clea~aess apl lelicacy OF de-
tail for good efTect. aaI Cunt ta.rnoi
follows these details With such truth ana
ardor that as a result his pictures are
FOR the most part ideally lovely. He seems
TO have the faculty OF hittins upon ex-
oeptionally groupings. The Photographic
detail is almost perfect and in each case
he makes a figure or group OF figures
blend harmoniously with the surround
ings.
The classic period. with Its gracefully
Characteristic daperies and sandals seems
to appeal strongly 10 this artist, and in
the Villa Medici. among the old stone