314 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



and character for a Venus she is merely woman. 

 Belonging to no special rank or class in society, and 

 neither classical nor ideal, she personifies all that is 

 most lovely in her sex ; and, whether found in a 

 palace or a cottage, would delight and astonish all 

 beholders. This rarely gifted woman was the daughter 

 of Palma Vecchio, and the beloved of Giorgione, one 

 of the handsomest men of his time ; but her sym- 

 pathies were not for him, and he died of grief and 

 despair in his prime. She was the favourite model of 

 Titian and his school, and the type that more or less 

 prevails in many celebrated pictures. 



" How different, and yet how beautiful of its kind, 

 is that portrait of a Doge's daughter, by Paris Bor- 

 done ! Less dazzling and luxuriant in her beauty 

 than Palma's daughter, she is in all respects intensely 

 aristocratic. In complexion not rich and glowing, 

 but of a transparent and pearly lustre, through which 

 the course of each blue vein is visible. In shape and 

 features not full and beaxttifully rounded, but some- 

 what taller and of more delicate symmetry. In look 

 and attitude not open, frank, and natural ; but astute, 

 refined, courteous, and winning to a degree attainable 

 only by aristocratic training and the habits of high 

 society. In apparel, neither national nor picturesque, 

 but attired with studied elegance. Rich rows of 

 pearls wind through her braided hair, in colour gold, 

 in texture soft as silk. A band of gold forms the 

 girdle of her ruby-coloured velvet robe, which de- 



