118
ART EDV CAT ION.
spiiit of progress ought to take place earlier than anywhere eise
in that country in which the noblest forms liave tlieir liome.
Looking over the publications issued tkroughout the world for
purposes of art-instruction during the last twenty years, we shall
find that certainly two-thirds of their contents are taken from the
monuments of Italy. England, France, Germany, and Austria
have drawn upon the treasures of this country for the education of
their own art, and have employed them as means for the improvement
of taste.
So far the political condition of Italy has undoubtedly been the
Principal cause why the materials to be found in the country have
not been turned to advantage more independently. Now that the
uuity has been attained which was so long striven for, a more satisfactory
activity may also be expected in the dircction of art. The
later publications for instruction in drawing and in art consist
mainly of photographs, which, as is well known, have been
brought to the highest state of perfection in Italy, especially for
the reproduction of paintings, &c. Besides large copies of the
pamtings of the classical masters, we must not forget to mention
the highly mteresting and superior publication of the drawings in
the Pmakotheka of Venice, by A. Srini. The old city of the
Tiber, with its surroundings, appeared bodily at the exhibition in
the splendid pictures (by Fratelli Rosa) published under the title,
“Sülle Scoperte Archeologiche nelle Cittä e Provincia di Roma
negli Anni 1871-1872.”
Of lithographic works we may finally mention “ Racolta di Ornament!,”
from terra-cottas at Siena (fifteenth and sixteenth Centimes)
by S. Rotellini and G. Breuci (Siena, 1873), consisting of
charming Renaissance motives composed for the most varied
spaces ; and “ Musaici Christiani e Saggi Pavimenti della Chiese
dl R i oma ” (fifteenth Century), by G. B. di Rossi, beautifully executed
in cliromolithograi^hy.
