THE ARTS. THE DIORAMA.
THE Diorama has reopened, with two new views,--a distant view of Paris, from Montmartre, by DAGUEERE, and a perspective interior of part of the Campo Santo, or Cemetery at Pisa, by BouroN. These two artists have painted all the views exhibited at this delightful exhi- bition ; which maintains its high character, and continues unrivalled by any other of its kind.
The view of Paris, as a painting, is principally admirable on account of the surprising force and vividness of the mill and the eminence in the foreground ; which for .the look of reality cannot be surpassed. The distance shows a great part of the city of Paris ; but in a general view, the principal buildings being discernible only by reason of their elevation. The houses in the middle distance are cleverly painted ; but the effect of the whole is rather cold, and it is not improved by the peculiar green of the fields and the foliage, in representing which French artists are commonly deficient in feeling for nature. The sky, how- ever, is well painted ; and the varying effects of light and shade add great beauty to the Scene.
But the grand attraction is the perspective view of one of the clois- ters of the Campo Santo. This cemetery is an enclosure planted with cypresses and myrtles, and surrounded by arcades, lighted from one side throughGothic windows, like the cloisters of a cathedral, but more lofty and extensive. The walls are ornamented with splendid paintings in fresco, by the early painters of Italy, and inlaid here and there with monumental tablets ; while a range of ancient tombs and sarcophagi, raised on the ground, occupy each side, interspersed with statues of eminent persons. The pavement consists of large slabs of white marble, forming tomb-stones with inscriptions, surrounded by a border of black marble. The design is a noble one, and worthy of a great city. We hope it will be taken into consideration to adopt the plan for sonic of our projected cemeteries. Our climate is so destructive of the outline of sculptured edifices, that it is desirable to afford a shelter for monu- mental records ; else the mason will exercise barbaric sway where the genius of the sculptor should reign undisputed. The vaults and graves might be in the open air, and the monuments be erected in the sur- rounding arcades. But we digress.
The interior of one of the cloisters or arcades of the Campo Santo, is seen in perspective before the spectator ; who, after gazing awhile on the scene, forgets the picture, and becomes rapt in those musings which the contemplation of the actual scene would excite. The bold relief, by the powerful effect of light and shade, of the pillars and statues in the foreground, and the elaborate and perfect imitation of the various inci- dental objects—Such as flag-stones removed, planks on the floor, &c.— render the illusion complete. We are old stagers, and critical in these deceptions ; but we confess it cost us some minutes' cogitation to be convinced that the planks, It:e. on the floor were not actual projections. There is no figure introduced, which in this case is an improvement ;- it makes the solitude more still, and renders the illusion permanent. But as you look, you every moment expect that the entrance of sonic person will disturb the hushed quietude of the place.
This magnificent structure is greatly dilapidated, but is now in pro- gress of restoration; we hope the richly sculptured marble monuments will not be suffered to remain in their present mutilated state. The sarcophagi are of Grecian and Roman workmanship ; and there are many altars, vases, and fragments of antiquity, with some Gothic tombs and statues of great beauty.
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