PROGRESS OF THE MORE RAPHAEL.
The exhibition of the Moore Raphael, the "Apollo and Marsyas," at Vienna attained ever increasing success while it lasted. In its arrange- ments, the Government most handsomely met Mr. Moore's liberal spirit; for we have already stated that the proceeds of the exhibition are devoted entirely to local and charitable objects. It is now said that, in order to pay honour to so great a work of art, and to diminish the risk of damage, the Imperial Government at Vienna forwarded a despatch specially ordering that Mr. Moore's baggage should be exempted from search at the Custom House upon his leaving the Austrian capital for Venice. Amongst those who have visited the picture, and have more than endorsed the attestation of its authorship, has been Professor Eitelberger, lecturer on art at the University and at the Imperial and Royal Academy of Vienna, and a collaborateur on the Deutsche* Ifunstblatt of Berlin with Dr. Ernst Forster of Munich, M. Passavant, and M. 'Waagen. Professor Enrich, the distinguished historical painter of Vienna, and, like Schnorr, fellow- labourer with Overbeck and Veit on the Massimi frescoes at Rome, declares the authenticity of the picture evident at a glance ; M. Louis (Pruner, well known in this country, concurring in that opinion. The same success has attended the exhibition of the painting in Venice. On the 27th of February, the Governor, with Baron Prato, the Secretary to the Luogotenenza, visited the Academia di Belle Arti, and devoted a long time to a close and delighted scrutiny of the work. The visit was fol- lowed by a letter communicating his Excellency's impressions we subjoin a translation—
[TRANSLATION.]
" Venice, March 1, 1860.
"Six—We have the pleasure to communicate to you, that, in consequence of your having with immense success publicly exhibited in Paris,* Munich,
• The Apollo and Marsyas was not exhibited at Paris in aid of any Institution. At Munich and at Venice it was exhibited in aid of the Artists' Benevolent Fund ; at Dresden and at Vienna, in aid of the Schiller Foundation Fund.
Dresden, and Vienna, in furtherance of pions and philanthropic objects, the picture of Apollo and Marsyas,' in your possession, and of this picture's having been everywhere acknowledged to be not only an undoubted original, by Raphael, but one of singular interest, and in consequence, moreover, of your having desired to exhibit the said picture in this Accademia di Belle Arti side by side with the corresponding original drawing by Raphael, the Supreme I. R. Ministry of Worship and Public Instruction in reply to the petition which you had addressed to it, and in consideration that the exhi- bition of your famous picture, side by side with the original drawing be- longing to this Academy, would be of the deepest interest to all artists and lovers of art, forwarded orders to the Government of this Luogotenenza, not only to grant you the public exhibition of your picture of Apollo and Mar- eyes, side by side with the corresponding drawing belonging to this Acade- my, in a suitable place in the same, but by every possible means zealously to assist you towards this object.
"At the same time, the Supreme Ministry of Worship and Public In- struction' in order to protect so great a treasure as an original picture by Raphael from every possible risk through inadvertent handling, enjoined the Government of this Luogotenenza to make arrangements that the usual Customhouse operations be waived respecting the case containing it, particu- larly on your quitting Venice, and that, above all, be omitted the opening of it or the placing of any seal upon it, lest its contents be endangered.
"In the orders given on this head to the Presidency of the Accademia di Belle Arti, and in the understanding entered into with the I. It. Prefecture of Finance, you will have recognised the ready zeal with which the Govern- ment of this Luogotenenza has fulfilled the high behests of the Supreme Ministry.
"In the meantime, steps will at once be taken that the name of Montapna be erased from Raphaers original drawing of Apollo and Marsyas belonging to the Accademia di Belli Arti of Venice, and that its authenticity be so established as to cause all doubt to cease.
"Accept the assurance of my highest consideration.
TOGGMITURG."
The Marchese P. Selvatico has expressed his astonishment that the pic- ture should have been allowed to leave England at a time when the au- thorities of our National Gallery are spending large sums on inferior pic- tures like the Pisani Paul Veronese the Family of Darius. The Marquis, formerly a Director of the Academia di Belle Arti at Venice, may be seen cited as an authority in Sir Charles Eastlake's annual reports.
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