IT ALT. 
117 
From the Island of Sicily the “ Societa Operaria,” of Messina, 
had sent some drawings, which, however, left mucli to be desired 
in choice of models, as well as in execution. They were princi- 
pally figure-studies, among which those after Julien must be 
called the best, in spite of their deficiencies. Academical studies 
had been copied (probably from drawings) without the least 
understanding; and the shaded Ornaments were wanting m that 
delicacy of execution which otherwise is the peculiar characteris- 
tic of the Italians. The “ Scuola Tecnica ” at Nola, on the con- 
trary, exhibited very pretty results ; linear and freehand drawing 
is there practiced according to the usual method, and the success 
attained deserves full praise. 
From the island of Sardinia the “ Scuola Tecnica at Caglian 
had sent specimens of the work of its pupils, among which, how 
ever only the linear drawings deserved to be called good, re - 
hand-drawing in ornament and in figures (from French Originals) 
is practiced without System and without results. 
It will be seen from the remarks made in the preceding para- 
graphs, that exertions are not lacking in Italy to keep alive the tradi- 
tions of its rieh art-industry, and to trainnew agents fonts Service. 
The fact, that the forms employed do not go beyond this traditio , 
and that very little progress has consequently been made for years, 
is mainly owing to the schools, which content themse ves with im- 
itating old examples, and neglect to introduce new elements from 
the universal fountain-head of all art,-from nature Even he 
absence of flgure-drawing is suffleient to act as a check upon the 
free development of the ornament; and this subject will ha e to 
receive attention above every thing eise, if the people are to >e 
educated to a higher comprehension of art. The Italian Indus 
tries of to-day, unlike those of the Cinque-Cento, have no great 
art at their side, from which they might receive a further Impulse 
They plod along the old roads in solitude, and are content with 
preserving the intellectual elements bequeathed to them bj former 
Ü To be sure, the time during which reformatory movements in 
art-industry have been made consciously has been but short as 
yet and the monumental world of Italy is far from being ex- 
hausted. But it seems as if a freer intellectual movement in the