ficulty of transfusing into a translation the delicacies and graces of any well-written work. "Ce qu'il y a de plus délicat dans les pensées, et dans les expressions des auteurs, qui ont écrit avec beaucoup de justesse, se perd quand on les veut mettre dans une autre langue: à-peu-près comme ces essences exquises, dont le parfum subtile s'évapore quand on les verse d'un vase dans un autre*." Such considerations may, perhaps, atone for occasional inelegancies of language, but no apology can be offered for inaccuracies; and it is hoped that this Abridgement of Lanzi-which comprises the lives of all the more distinguished Italian artists nearly at full length-will be found exempt from the many errors and mistranslations which disfigure the larger work of Mr. Roscoe.

* Bouhours, Pensées Ingénieuses, p. 195.

CONTENTS.

CHAP. I.

Passage of the Mont Cenis-Savoyard Valleys; Poverty of the
Inhabitants; Pass of La Chaille; Montagna della Grotta;
Valley of the Arc; Sun-rise among the Alps; Lans-le-
Bourg; Hospice; Susa; Rivoli;-Turin; its Situation; the
Superga
Page 1-19

CHAP. II.

Genoa-Its Fortifications; Narrowness of its Streets; Betti-
nelli's Description of it; Marble Palaces; Churches; Hospi-
tals; National Character; adjacent Country

20-30

CHAP. III.

Pisa-The Cathedral; Baptistery; Leaning Tower; Campo

Santo

31-41

CHAP. IV.

Lucca-Vale of the Serchio; Baths of Lucca

CHAP. V.

Florence-Its Situation; Royal Gallery; Gabinetto Fisico;
Libraries; Churches; Cathedral; Dante; Santa Croce; Santa
Maria Novella; Boccacio; Chapel de' Depositi; Chapel de'
Medici; Palaces; Pitti Palace; Corsini Palace . 46-107

CHAP. VI.

Improvvisatori-General Character; their Prototypes among the
Ancients; Homer an Improvvisatore

108-116

CHAP. VII.

The Drama-Mysteries or Sacred Dramas; early Tragedies;
early Comedies; Commedie dell' Arte; Operas; Opera Buffa;
Goldoni; Gozzi; Metastazio; Alfieri; Italian Performers

117-158

CHAP. VIII.

Vallombrosa-Camaldoli-La Verna.

159-167

CHAP. IX.

General Aspect and Agriculture of Tuscany-Plain; Colmate;
Metayers; Leaseholders;-Hill; Produce; Mode of Cul-
ture;-Mountain; Mountain Villages; Chesnut Woods;
Appearance of the Mountaineers;-Environs of Florence;
beautiful View from Fiesole; Italian Sun-set; Fire Flies

168-183

CHAP. X.

Siena-Palaces; Piazza del Campo; Cathedral; Chigi Chapel;

Library; Dominican Church; Guido da Siena's Madonna;

Low State of the Sienese School; Peruzzi's Sibyl; Vanni's

Descent from the Cross; Hatred subsisting between the

Italian States; Boxing
184-195

CHAP. XI.

Journey from Siena to Rome-Maremma; Montepulcian Wine;

Baths of St. Philip; Ricorsi; Radicofani; Dress of the

Shepherds; Acquapendente; Lake of Bolsena; Montefias-

cone; Viterbo; Soracte; Desolate State of the Campagna;

Reasons for supposing it to be nearly in the same State

now as formerly
196-210

CHAP. XII.

Malaria-Its supposed Causes; not confined to Low Situations;

Brocchi's Hypothesis; Woods productive of it; Period of its

Continuance

211-216

CHAP. XIII.

Rome-Topography; Capitoline Hill; Tarpeian Rock; Forum;

Works of the Republic-Tullian Prison; Cloaca Maxima; Mili-
tary Ways; Aqueducts; Pantheon; Tombs; Tomb of the
Scipios, of C. Poblicius Bibulus, of Caius Cestius, of

Cæcilia Metella; Temple of Rediculus; Temple of Honour

and Virtue; Fountain and Valley of Egeria 225-255

CHAP. XV.

Works of the Empire-Imperial Palace; Temples; Temple of

Jupiter Tonans, Concord or Fortune, Jupiter Stator, Peace,

Antoninus and Faustina, Peace, Venus and Rome, Vesta,

and Fortuna Virilis;-Triumphal Arches; Arch of Titus,

Septimius Severus, Constantine, Gallienus, and Drusus;

Janus Quadrifrons; Trajan's Pillar; M. Aurelius's Pillar;

Tombs of Augustus and Hadrian; Coliseum; Circus of

Romulus; Scuderie del Circo di Romolo; Theatre of Mar-

cellus; Portico of Octavia; Baths and Palace of Titus;

Caracalla's Baths; Diocletian's Baths; Bridges, &c. 256-304

CHAP. XVI.

Works of the Middle Ages-Basilicas; St. John Lateran;

San Stefano Rotondo; S. Constantia; San Lorenzo; St.

Clement; St. Agnes; S. Maria in Trastevere; S. Croce;

S. Maria Maggiore; Catacombs of St. Sebastian 305-313

CHAP. XVII.

Modern Architecture-Algarotti's Theory; Churches; Palaces;

Villas; Fountains

314-324

CHAP. XVIII.

St. Peter's; Jesus and St. Ignatius; San Pietro in Vincoli;
St. Gregory; San Pietro in Montorio; Capuchin Church;
S. Andrea della Valle; S. Maria Sopra Minerva; S. Agos-