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23 April 1910 — Ca’ Capello, Venice | |
Saturday. 23rd [April 1910]. This was the day of the opening of the Art Exhibition—so we were all up betimes. At 8.30 Sir Rennell Rodd was fetched by one of the town council in a municipal gondola to go in the procession. Sir R. went in levée dress wh had been decided because his Bulgarian colleague was found not to have brought a redingote with him. At 9 we all went off with Sr Malagola, he in gondola with the 2 Vivians & I with Mrs Langenbach. We got there rather early as the D. of the Abruzzi was not to start from the Palace till ¼ to 10. We had excellent places in the 1st category that is we stood in the hall near the circle prepared for the Duke, the Ministers of F.A. & Instruction—a small semicircle of chairs. There were 3 speeches made wh seemed long to us who had to stand all the time. I made the acquaintance of John Lavery the painter & his pretty young wife. He is rather a commonplace looking little Irish man, with a pleasant twinkle in his eye, of about 50. His wife much younger & very graceful. When the speeches were over the Duke of the Abruzzi & his ½ brother the P. of Udine accompanied by the authorities & followed by a crowd went round the rooms & we followed so quickly that we saw but little of the pictures—& only got very hot. When the Princes got out of the main building & while they visited the rest of the pavilions where different nations had their pictures we returned to our gondolas & waited about to see the procession return to the Palace—the authorities with the bissone bright with their many coloured costumes made a brilliant festive effect in the bright sunshine—we went on home– After lunch had visit from Mr Drefus & his friend M. Courtier the French Ambassador at Venice—a big white haired man with gentle manners—also the Senatore Blaserna who brought me messages of greeting from our mutual friend Donna Laura Minghetti. He is so stout as to be unwieldy & is nearly bald but has a kindly expression & is very pleasant. Later came Marchese Cappelli with greetings from his wife– He is now here officially for the exhibition– A great big man with thick white hair worn en brosse. About 4 we went out in gondola. Sr Malagola came to accompany the Vivians in their gondola & Sir Rennell came with Mrs Langenbach & me. We went first to the Eden’s garden—where we had tea. Thence I took the Ambr to see the hospital—from there we went to the Montalbas & then home. Sir Rennell dined at the official banquet at the H. Britannia & then rejoined us at the Fenice where we ladies went in the evening. There was a teatro de gala—to which the princess & authorities went. A little old opera of Rossini’s the Cambiale de Matrimonio was given—pretty a light music but dull & long—in one act. Afterwards an act or two of Guillaume Tell was given—but we left shortly after it had begun—having had a fatiguing day. | |
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