152 THE MARBLES OP ITALY. 



especially from the wild mountains which rise above Carrara, Massa 

 and Seravezza. Large quantities of marble were obtained in the time of 

 the Romans from the mountains of Lunigiana (Montes Lunenses) ; and 

 the name of Carrara statuary marbles is known all over the world. 

 Leo X., Cosmo I., and Francis L, of Medicis, devoted much of their time 

 and attention to the working of the marbles of Seravezza, the excellent 

 quality of which was demonstrated by Michael Angelo, as well as the 

 difficulty of obtaining them " until the mountains were lowered and the 

 inhabitants tamed," two processes which have never been fairly accom- 

 plished until a very recent period. The extraction of the marbles of 

 Seravezza has been re-established on a large scale, Russia alone having 

 taken them to the amount of one million roubles (about 150,000Z.) for 

 the construction of the cathedral of Saint Isaac, at St Petersburgh ; and 

 the population of the district of Pietrasanta has increased in 30 years 

 (from 1819 to 1850) from 15,495 to 23,200 inhabitants, or nearly 50 per 

 cent. 



In addition to rough blocks, Seravezza exports a considerable quan- 

 tity of table-tops, flooring-slabs, and other sawn products. The trade of 

 Carrara has recently increased to a considerable extent, owing chiefly to 

 the efforts of the Local Academy of Fine Arts. In like manner the 

 trade of Massa has increased in a manner that leads us to expect a still 

 further expansion, for a great number of its marbles are of a character 

 resembling the statuary marble of Monte Altissimo, and their architec- 

 tural qualities are in every way equal to those of Seravezza, both as 

 regards uniformity and durability, and they are equally well adapted to 

 the most delicate kinds of sculpture. A marble, analogous to that of 

 La Polla, already described, and comparable to the statuary quality of 

 Crestola, is found in large quantities in the romantic and picturesque 

 ravine of Equi, in the Lunigiana. 



The greatest possible care is necessary in the selection of marbles for 

 exportation. The opinion current in Paris, that the marbles of Carrara 

 are unable to withstand the effects of the climate of that city, is due to 

 the frequent use of Saloni and Ravaccioni of a bad quality, the slightest 

 coherent marble of Betogli, and other inferior descriptions from the 

 Carrara country. 



The Montagnola of Sienna furnish hroccatelli and yellow marbles. If 

 the quarries belonging to Mr. Nomis were opened and properly worked, 

 the supply of these rare qualities might be largely increased, more 

 especially the yellow variety, which is now rarely found in large blocks. 



The Portoro, which is obtained from the western chain of the Gulf of 

 Spezia, is also extremely rare, if fine golden-veined specimens are re- 

 quired ; fresh supplies might, however, be obtained by opening quarries 

 on the other slope of the chain, where this formation passes to that of 

 the ammonitiferoiis limestones of the lias and of the palaeozoic rocks. 



The mixed marbles and breccias are very abundant ; and, with an in- 



