The Pageant of Venice
Description:... This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1922 edition. Excerpt: ... at dinner in Titian's house in a letter of the time: " I was invited in the month of August to the house of Messer Tiziano Vecelli, a great painter as every one knows, and the most charming of hosts, to celebrate the festa known here as ferrare agosto. We were assembled in a delicious garden situated at one extremity of Venice, beside the lagoon, across which rises the little island of Murano. In waiting for the table to be laid under the trees when the heat of the day should be over, we visited the house of the painter, full of the most marvellous pictures in the world. Then in the coolness of evening we saw the whole lagoon cover itself with gondolas carrying musicians and singers, who, together with the loveliest Venetian girls, began a serenade which lasted till midnight. As for the dinner it was as delicate as it was well ordered: the wines were fine and the accompanying service lacked nothing. At dessert they brought me your letter in which you praise the Latin tongue to the detriment of the Tuscan. Aretino attacked your opinion in the most brilliant and delightful fashion, and I should like to have in ink on paper his discourse. All passed in delight and gallantry. The noble and grave Titian kept all the time a certain restraint; whilst Aretino's friends allowed themselves to be enticed by the charms of the Aspasias of Venice, he contented himself with addressing them charmingly and caressing them; but he only gave them the kiss of Socrates." This long friendship with Titian is indeed the noble side of Aretino's life. His friendship was disinterested and pure. In such feasts as that set out above we ever see Titian as the grave observer. It is Aretino who, delighting not less than his friends in the...
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