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25 June 1876 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Sunday. 25th [June 1876]. Tea at 9 & started by 10.30 train to spend the day at Css Marcellos at Magliano. Went with the Pisanis & their American friend Miss Willett & Css Maddalena Papadopoli. It took about an hour getting there. At the station we found Css Marcello had sent a landeau & a break & 4 to fetch us. Abt 12 minutes drive took us to the Villa where Css Marcello & her sister in law Baronesa de Orefice received us. The house has a long gallery thro’ the middle of it with door at each end opening on the garden—comfortably furnished– There were several Italian gentlemen there—Ct Luigi Michiel, Ct Contin Abate, Abate Zanella (a poet), a professor of mathematics & one or 2 more. We breakfasted & then walked round the garden. The sun was hot but it was wet underfoot as it had poured all night. At 2 we went off to see Treviso—Css M, Henry, Zanella, Contin, Gino Marcello, Css Papadopoli & Miss Willett went. It became cloudy & cooler. We drove abt ¾ hour. Went 1st to S. Nicolas which is a very fine church. A high pitched roof & no side chapels. On each of the immense columns are curious old frescos wh have lately been uncovered– Over the altar is a fine picture by Sebastian del Pronibo—there was a small Paris Bordone in the sacristy. We walked from here to the cathedral where we saw a lovely picture of the Annunciation by Titian & some fine remains of fresco in a side chapel by Pordenone. We could not get the keys to look into the library to see [what] other pictures there were. We went & waited for the carriage at a caffée opposite the town hall wh is being repaired & is all covered outside with matting. Got back to the villa abt 5 & having a headache I went to lie down till dinner time. While we were at Treviso several more guests had arrived amongst them Sr Berchet who has published some of the archives of Venice. At a little past 6 we dined the table being put on the gavel walk outside the door. We were a party of 25 including Css Marcello’s 7 children who were all at home for a wonder the elder being home from school. It looked very lowing over head & we expected rain every moment. At last the little girl of 7 clapped her hands with delight & shouted “piove”. We all got up & retired to the house. On a signal from the servant 6 stout peasants came with stout poles which they passed under the table & amidst shouts of delight & surprise they carried the table food & all round to the portico under the stables where each one took his place & finished his chicken. At the end of dinner Ct Contin became very amusing & kept improvising brindisi’s & couplets amongst roars of laughter– He then proposed that the poet Zanella should read aloud some verses he had written in honor of Css Marcello after wh everybody drank every body’s health & the dinner became very merry. We had coffee & smoking in the garden the rain having ceased—& at 9 we started for Mestre wh took an hour to drive to & came back to Venice by train. Mrs Burr was at home returned from spending the day with the Edens. | |
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