292 TOUR THROUGH ITALY. [1804. 



But in the Barbarigo Palace 43 the chef-d'oeuvre 

 of collections. In one room some excellent pieces by 

 Titian's scholars; in next, twelve first-rate Titians, 

 besides other small ones viz., portrait of Barbarigo, 

 very capital, dated 1492, painted when Titian was 

 only sixteen years of age all these done in the house. 

 "St Sebastian," head alone finished: Titian died 

 while doing it. " Christ crowned with Thorns," 

 livid complexion, very striking. "Kedeemer," with 

 finger lifted up, and globe in hand ; sublime face : 

 mouth peeling off. "Madonna and Child," colour- 

 ing fine, but expression vulgar, and face rather fat. 

 " Christ bearing the Cross/' dark. " Venus and 

 Adonis," she turning her back, naked, and throwing 

 arm round him to retain him ; looks coarse at first, 

 but examined, is very sweet ; her face and his ex- 

 cellent ; above all, the Venus, naked to middle. 

 Near are two cupids one holds glass, in which she 

 is looking, turning slightly round, almost profile; 

 colour exquisitely delicate, and full, and mellow; 

 hand and body noble, and the greatest beauty I ever 

 saw, which for elegance and softness is lovely indeed. 

 An Apollo, by Giovanni Bellini, worthy of accom- 

 panying its neighbouring picture by Veronese. 



Oct. 15. Morning spent in study at St Mark's 

 and shopping ; in evening, at the usual hour of nine, 

 got into my gondola and drove to theatre ; very fine ; 

 staircase noble ; company numerous and good ; acting 

 first-rate Orestes, the character by Deblairis, one of 

 the best I ever saw ; his horror at discovering his parri- 



