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2 November 1901 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Saturday. 2nd [November 1901]. Verona & I & Mr Somers Cocks were taken by Mr Beaumont by train via Montebelluna to Fanzolo to pay a visit to Count & Countess Emo. They have a charming villa there close to the station. One of the 5 sons Count Carlo met us & we walked the hundred yards wh led to the house—a long low building with a fine center of high columns & an archetrane. Under the barchizze the Emo family met & greeted us & took us into the house—by the french windows opening into the rooms on the ground floor. They were small but comfortable & tastefully arranged by the Countess who had embroidered panelling & hangings. The Countess is handsome—a french lady from Nice—with dark eyes & white hair & a graceful manner, & had done much for the family in the way of keeping her stupid husband from utter ruin. The 5 sons are devoted to her. I found it quite easy to get on with her– We lunched abt 12 & the meal was served with simplicity & elegance. After coffee she took us to see the rooms on the 1st floor the frescos on the walls of which are said to have been painted by P. Veronese. They are doubtless of that time but are wanting in the strength of the master—besides the rooms are too small in proportion for the large figures painted on the walls wh seem to threaten to overwhelm one. One fine feature of the villa is the incline plane which leads up from the garden to the 1st floor under the portico. The Countess took me round the garden & showed me the farm buildings—but the beasts were all out at work so there was not much to see except to observe the spick & span state in wh all is kept under the superintendence of the Countess. Being the day of the Morti there was a general holiday & the family of Emo was distributing small coppers to the inhabitants—an old custom on the day of I morti. We left after lunch about 2 & drove to Castelfranco accompanied by Count Carlo Emo to see the Giorgione picture in the church there & then we took the train for Venice again & got home to dinner. | |
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