LA MORTOLA. 17 



the heads of Linnczus and A. P. De Candolle, look down upon 

 the glorious collection of plants from all parts of the world as- 

 sembled round them. This entrance-porch on the north side of 

 the house reminds one somewhat of the gateway in the Corte 

 Sabbionera of the house in Venice in which Marco Polo is stated 

 to have been born. A most attractive picture of this, the most 

 famous traveller in the Middle Ages, is executed, life-size, in 

 splendid mosaic on a gold ground on the right-hand side of the 

 porch. In the absence of any authentic portrait of Marco Polo, 

 the Venetian artist Salviati has managed to picture that observant 

 traveller in a manner which cannot fail to please his admirers. 

 Sober self- consciousness is the dominant expression in this 

 vigorous figure, which is pictured in the enjoyment of well- 

 earned repose in his splendid native place. His red robe is 

 certainly not a travelling dress, and just as certainly not the 

 garment of a prisoner of war ; besides, the folio which the artist 

 has placed in his hand, was dictated during his Genoese imprison- 

 ment. The back of the book bears his coat of arms, three ravens, 

 and the nickname " II Milione," which the popular Venetian wit 

 bestowed on their great countryman, who certainly did not come 

 back empty-handed from his twenty-four years of travelling. Over 

 the geographical emblems and the laurel -wreath Salviati has 

 placed this inscription in indestructible mosaic : 



MARCUS POLUS VENETUS 

 , NAT. MCCLIV. OB. MCCCXXIV. 



SIN.E PEREGRINATOR PRIMUS. 



The land of China, first visited by Marco Polo, has become 1 

 endeared by many associations to the proprietor of the Palazzo 

 Orengo, whose feelings have been well rendered by the inscription 

 over the hall door, placed there in 1877 by the English statesman 

 John Bright : 



INVENI PORTUM 

 SPES ET FORTUNA VALETE 



SAT ME LUSISTIS 

 LUDITE NUNC ALIOS. 



The hall, corridors, and rooms of the Palazzo also contairf 

 many art treasures chosen with judgment, and not a few objects of 

 antiquarian interest found in the country round Mortola. Ori 

 the south side of the house there are still more remarkable groups 

 of plants. Among mighty specimens of the stiff Agave and Aloe 



