Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904Waddington, Mary King
General
Italian Letters of a Diplomat's Wife: January-May, 1880; February-April, 1904
Waddington, Mary King
Rome (Italy) -- Social life and customs
We really are starting to-morrow morning--trunks are packed, compartment
engaged, and we have said good-bye to everybody. I made a last little
turn this morning in the Boboli Gardens. I didn't see the custode--I
wanted to say good-bye to him. Then we went to the Pitti gallery, W.
wanted to see one particular Botticelli, "la bella Simonetta" I think,
which he and Mary had been talking about, and which we had missed the
other day. It is quite impossible to see everything. I had remembered
pretty well the principal pictures. Then we took a fiacre and went out
to San Marco to see the Fra Angelicos and Savonarola's cell. We had
never once got there, there is always so much to do. We walked through
the cloisters first--the frescoes are perfectly well preserved--some of
Fra Angelico's and others less interesting. I wanted to see the cells,
and was quite pleased to recognise the "Coronation of the Virgin" and
the "Madonna and Child" surrounded by angels, all in their long
green-blue robes with wings and musical instruments of all kinds. As
usual people were copying them, and I will try and find a pretty one and
bring it back. I want the one in a sort of light green dress blowing a
trumpet. The faces are quite beautiful, so pure. He must have had a
wonderful imagination--I wonder if he believed angels look like that?
Somehow or other I always think of an angel in a white robe. We saw of
course Savonarola's cell, and they showed us his rosary, and a piece of
wood which is supposed to have been taken from his funeral pile. It all
looked so peaceful and smiling to-day, one could hardly realize the long
hours of doubt and self-torture passed in these solitary cells. There is
a fine description in one of the numerous books the Bunsens have on
Florence, of Savonarola's preaching--all the people congregated in the
great square before the church, when there was no longer any room
inside, leaving their shops and their work to come and listen to him.
That is one of the delightful things in this household, you can always
find a book in almost any language about any subject that interests you,
religion, music, politics, everything.
Beatrice has a delightful German magazine, "Monatsheft," very well
illustrated, with all the modern German literature, stories, essays,
criticisms, etc. One could almost wish for a rainy day or a quiet
evening to read a little.
W. went off by himself the other night and had a very pleasant evening.
First to the Piccolellis' where he found a small party and his old
friend Bentivoglio, with whom he had travelled in the East. Of course
they instantly got into a corner and talked shop (medals). Then to
Lottie Van Schaick who had a few friends, where he amused himself very
much.
Gertrude writes that our rooms are very nice, and the man at the hotel
delighted to have us. I wonder what Rome will be like. It will seem
funny to be back there again, a respectable middle-aged lady. I think
one should always be young and gay to live in Italy.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account