Chriftian antiqui. ties. Table. Picture by Cortona. facrifice, and upon the whole, fuch a collection of idols, as I should imagine are no where else to be found within fo fmall a compass. One of the tripods is so constructed as to fold up, and therefore convenient for moving from place to place; the other, which is differently shaped, is fupported by feet in the form of ferpents, terminated by women's heads veiled. Here are alfo two Chriftian antiquities; one represents Mofes ftriking the rock, the other St. Peter and St. Paul in a Bark; the former is at the helm as pilot, the latter preaching. These antiques are rudely executed; but there have been drawings and engravings made from them by order of several cardinals and popes. Another beautiful Table of Florentine work, as well executed as that in the Tribune. There are several pictures in this room; thofe most to our taste are the following: One by Pietro da Cortona, representing the Pietro da angel fitting on the fepulchre of our Lord, and speaking to the three Marys; it is in a clear manner, and has the appearance of being left unfinished. Venus combing Love; the colouring is fresh, but the demi-tints fail, fo that the degradation of the lights to the dark shadows are too fudden; G. Gio- this is by Gio. Giovani. vani. Suterman. A large picture by Suterman; it represents the Florentines performing an act of fubmiffion to a prince of the houfe of Medici: he is feated be 5 tween 1 tween his mother and grandmother: the compofition is noble, and the colouring vigorous. All the draperies are black; and the heads being portraits, make this an interefting picture. Two pictures by Baffano; one represents the Deluge, Baffane. the other Dives and Lazarus. A fine landscape, by Salvator Rofa. Salvator Rofa. Paul Veronefe's family, painted by himself: Paul Vethis has been a fine picture, but is now much ronefe. decayed. Luftre. of Arts. A fine picture by Guido, the fubject taken Guido. from the story of Armida, in Taffo's Jerufalem Delivered. Before I quit this room, I muft mention a luftre with figures, flowers, &c. in bas Amber relief, of grey amber, inferted as ornaments to it. The Cabinet of Arts is a room containing a Cabinet great number of preffes with glafs-doors, containing very curious performances in ivory, &c. Ivory. One prefs is filled entirely with vafes, fmall ftatues, and crucifixes in Amber. Amongst the Amber. turned and carved ivory, those like stair-cafes, in spiral and perpendicular lines, are wonderfully curious; for they are no more than from eight to twelve inches high, the latter in particular being almost as fine as a hair; they fpring from a pede. stal, and sustain themfelves upright, though terminated at top with mouldings, balls, &c. Two vafes, containing upwards of a quart each, fo thin, as to be tranfparent like a dufty wineglass. Dd 2 A com Wax. Work in precious ftones. Petrified woods. A compass, turned by the Czar Peter the Great; his firft effay in the art of turning, and presented by him to one of the grand dukes. A Curtius leaping into the gulph, well carved. Here is an ingenious representation in wax of the five ftages of the plague; it is terrifying to contemplate; fuffice it to fay, that it is esteemed perfectly well done; and was executed by one Gaetano Zummo, of Catane in Sicily; also another piece of wax-work representing a dead head, attended with circumstances and a variety that infpire horror. Several fine tables in precious ftones; one represents the of Leghorn, with a view of the port island of Corfica in agate. Other tables in petrified woods. One a German landscape, the bodies of the trees remarkably well done. Here are two great chairs, part of the old furniture of Cofmo I. and carefully preferved on account of their being exceeding fine old japan upon leather; although their feats and backs are soft and flexible, yet the varnish is not in the leaft cracked; the ground of one is fcarlet, with figures in gold and filver; the other black. Organ. A curious organ, ornamented with amber, and Brughel. feveral paintings; by Brughel. P. Nice ron. A picture, reprefenting a trophy, but when reflected in a cylinder, becomes a portrait of one of the princes of the house of Medicis; by P. Niceron. Amongft Amongst the pictures is a moft beautiful Pietre Pietre Nef, representing the infide of a church illumi- Nef. nated; the effect of the lights and fhadows, and the truth of the perfpective, cannot be fufficiently admired. 1 A fine picture by Nefcher (Cochin fays by Knel- Nefcher. ler, which is a mistake); the subject, a woman presenting an offering to Venus; the head, hands, the fattin, and other ftuffs, are admirable. A fine picture by Rubens, representing Venus Rubens. and Adonis; a Cupid endeavours to hold Adonis by the thigh; the Graces discover Venus: Envy and fome other Fury is dragging away Adonis by his drapery; feveral Cupids are very bufy in coupling and fecuring his fporting dogs. Venus is delicately handfome. A picture by the fame; Hercules between Vice Same. and Virtue; it is fine, yet both Vice and Virtue have rather too much of the Flemish coarsenefs. A Sybil in mofaic, after a picture by Guido. Mofaic. Two other Saints in the fame workmanship, which far exceed any painting. Two pictures of great merit of Isaiah and Job; by the brothers Bartelemi, of the port. A head Bartelemi. of John Baptist; by Leonardo da Vinci. A Pre- Leonardo sentation; by Old Palma. Tobias, by Old Palma, da Vinci, &c. &c. A Drunken Woman, a very good picture, by Terbourg. Bega. Berghem. Bamboche. A Woman playing on a Lute, by Bega. Dow. by Gherar A picture pretended to be by Teniers, but unworthy of him. A picture by Berghem. Two figures painted on touch-ftone, by Bamboche. The Devil confined in a bottle, a very good Mieris. picture, by Mieris. Vandyke. Rubens. Cabinet. A fine portrait, by Vandyke, of a very large man in black, half length. The Graces, by Rubens. In the middle of this room ftands a Cabinet, very fine. formed of ebony and a red wood, very hard and highly polished; the workmanship exquifitely neat; this cabinet is divided into three-score and ten pannels, formed of lapis lazuli, verd antique, jasper, and other precious ftones: on which are painted in oil, and in the most diminutive miniature fize, most of the principal events recorded in Brughel the Bible; by Brughel de Velours and his scholars. de Ve lours. The Supper of Nebuchadnezzar pleased me much there is an incredible number of figures, all amazingly well done, confidering how little place they occupy. In the infide is a reprefentation of Mount Calvary, the apoftles, and many other perfons, all well done in amber. On the top a clock and an organ, both out of order at prefent; |