Notre Convent. Marquis de Prie, a Piedmontese general, on the 5th of September 1706, in which they determined both upon the manner and attack of the French lines: this took place the 7th of the fame month; in which famous action the French army was entirely routed, Marefchal Marfin killed, and the fiege of Turin immediately raised. Very near this elm-tree is a little Convent of Capuchins, called of Notre Dame de Compagna. I fat in the carriage, whilft M- went into the Tomb of convent, to fee the Tomb of Marefchal Marfin ; Marefchal he is interred under the wall of a little chapel to Marfin. the left of the choir, without any other monu ment than a flab of black marble, inferted into the wall, and neither ornaments, arms, or atchievements; but there is an infcription in Latin, which pleases M much, and does honour to the moderation of the victors, who caufed it to be placed over his tomb-stone. M- will not translate it for you, but leaves that for Monfieur R— when you next meet. FERDINANDO DE MARSIN FRANCIÆ MARESCALLO ET FUGAM VICTORIAM EXERCITUM VITAM AMISIT In this little church is a picture, representing the above-mentioned council, drawn but the year after; the tree appears extremely like what it now is, and the four warriors are painted under it on horseback. Palace. The next most confiderable country house (and Stupenige which his Majefty is very fond of) is Stupenige, a hunting palace, about two leagues from Turin. The avenue that leads to it is finely planted with two rows of very large trees, and fo ftraight that you fee the palace which terminates the vifta the whole way; though I believe I ought to impute this effect, in fome measure, to its being placed upon an elevation, which however is scarce perceptible till you are close upon the building, when the ground fuddenly rifes. A coloffal ftag, gilt, feems as if bounding over the roof; it has an excellent effect, and is finely proportioned, appearing very plainly even from the commencement of the entrance of the avenue. This palace is more habitable and agreeable than la Venerie. front is decorated with pillars of the Ionic order; the wings are built femicircular, and are terminated by two fquare pavilions. Although the plan may admit of criticifm by very knowing architects, yet its effect is not at all unpleafing to the eye; nor has it the bleak look of la Venerie. There is no antichamber nor veftibule; you enter at once into the great faloon, which is in the centre of the corps-de-logis. The infide is fingularly ftriking; it has the appearance of a fine theatre, very fit for a mafqued ball, and is decorated and ornamented with paintings in fresco. The plan is an oval, round which are four tribunes, fupported VOL. I.. I The by by pilafters of the Ionic order: it feems as if be hind these tribunes there were galleries of confi derable extent, with windows at the end; but all this is deception, and the false ornaments, which are painted, agree with, and continue the real cornices, frizes, &c. in fuch manner that at first fight you can scarce diftinguish the true from the falfe. There is really great merit in this kind of painting, where it is properly employed, as it fhews the force of the art of perfpective, and that of light and fhade. The cieling represents Diana defcending in a triumphal car, drawn by two white deer; Aurora precedes her, and wakens her nymphs. The colours are very lively and gay, and although some of the figures might have been lighter, yet there is great vivacity in their atti tudes, and various preparations for the chafe. The aerian perspective is also well observed, the fky appearing of a prodigious height. The ciel ing of one of the falfe galleries reprefents four flying nymphs shooting with bow and arrow. Oppofite are four other winged nymphs who have taken several red partridges in a net. This laft is very well executed, and the subject fucceeds wonderfully well, though reprefented on the cieling. These frefco paintings were the joint work of two brothers, Venetians, named the Valeriani; one painted the figures, the other the architecture. There are four doors, which conduct to as many apartments; eight chimneys; and fix great windows, windows, three on each fide; prefenting different vistas. From one appears the avenue with Turin at the end, from the others are different views, equally extenfive, of the foreft, feen through the garden, and have a very fine effect. This faloon is covered with copper. The cieling of the firft room of the King's apartment represents the facrifice of Iphigenia, painted in frefco, by Croisati. The fubject is well treated; there is a ftrong expreffion of grief in one of Iphigenia's attendants, great dignity and refignation in the countenance of the princess, and the deepeft affliction in the attitude of Clytemnestra, who appears at a dif tance, endeavouring to support herself upon the bofom of Agamemnon, unable to endure the near approach of the facrifice. The figure the leaft interefting (though the most a propos to prevent the impending stroke from the uplifted arm of the unfeeling Prieft) is Diana, who looks as if she did not recollect why he came there, nor for what purpose. In the King's bed-chamber, the cieling is paint ed by Carlo Vanloo; the fubject, the Repofe of Diana after the Bath: the compofition is very well; the attitudes and countenances of the nymphs amiable. But the principal fault is, too ftrong a refemblance between the goddess and her attendants: they might be all taken for fifters. In the apartment of the Duke of Savoy are teng pictures, in two colours, by Alberoni; their sub jects architecture, finely thrown into perspective. All the apartments are hung with flowered fattin, very beautiful, of the manufacture of Turin. The King himself furnishes the filk, and the manufacturing of it does not ftand him in more than three livres an ell, as we have been fatisfactorily informed. In the gallery, for uniformity, are a row of fham windows, oppofite the real; all the panes in these are of looking-glafs; they open and ferve for doors to armoires, or closets, furnished with fhelves. We were ftruck with one of the rooms, the proportions of which please the eye furprisingly, it measures 18 paces long; M▬▬ ftept it, and fays it is equal to 18 yards, or thereabout, and the width is 9; 16 feet high, not including the cove, which may be four more. The walls are painted, very indifferently, by a Piedmontefe girl.-In the Duke of Chablais' apartment are feveral paintings in cameo, well done, reprefenting Cupids catching hares, and coupling dogs with garlands of flowers, &c.: the fubject of one of thefe has merit on account of the thought; one Cupid careffes a fawn, while feveral others are endeavouring to keep off the dogs from tormenting it. These are all done by a Turin painter, named Rapoux.-Adjoining is a small cabinet of about 16 feet fquare, the cieling coved with looking-glafs, and fo neatly done, that the joinings are not perceptible. By there being a great number of pieces, the company in the cabinet is multiplied and |