DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61894#0132
110
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. III.
ported by four lofty Corinthian pillars of porphyry.
This canopy, though perhaps of too great a
magnitude for its situation as it nearly touches
the roof, is the most beautiful and best propor-
tioned ornament of the kind which I ever be-
held. The side walls supported by the pillars
are divided by pilasters, between which are al-
ternately windows and mosaics; the pavement
is variegated, and the ceiling divided into square
pannels, doubly gilt and rich in the extreme.
There is no transept, but instead of it two noble
chapels open on either side. The one on the
right as you advance from the great entrance to-
wards the altar, was built by Sixtus Quintus, and
contains his tomb : it would be considered as
rich and beautiful, were it not infinitely surpassed
in both these respects by the opposite chapel be-
longing to the Borghese family, erected by Paul
V. Both these chapels are adorned with domes
and decorated with nearly the same architectural
ornaments. But in the latter, the spectator is
astonished at the profusion with w hich not bronze
and marble only,, but lapis lazuli, jasper, and the
more precious stones are employed on all sides, so
that the walls seem to blaze around, and almost
dazzle the eyes with their lustre. He may per-
haps feel himself inclined to wish that those
splendid materials had been employed with more
economy, and conceive that a judicious arrange-
2
CLASSICAL TOUR
Ch. III.
ported by four lofty Corinthian pillars of porphyry.
This canopy, though perhaps of too great a
magnitude for its situation as it nearly touches
the roof, is the most beautiful and best propor-
tioned ornament of the kind which I ever be-
held. The side walls supported by the pillars
are divided by pilasters, between which are al-
ternately windows and mosaics; the pavement
is variegated, and the ceiling divided into square
pannels, doubly gilt and rich in the extreme.
There is no transept, but instead of it two noble
chapels open on either side. The one on the
right as you advance from the great entrance to-
wards the altar, was built by Sixtus Quintus, and
contains his tomb : it would be considered as
rich and beautiful, were it not infinitely surpassed
in both these respects by the opposite chapel be-
longing to the Borghese family, erected by Paul
V. Both these chapels are adorned with domes
and decorated with nearly the same architectural
ornaments. But in the latter, the spectator is
astonished at the profusion with w hich not bronze
and marble only,, but lapis lazuli, jasper, and the
more precious stones are employed on all sides, so
that the walls seem to blaze around, and almost
dazzle the eyes with their lustre. He may per-
haps feel himself inclined to wish that those
splendid materials had been employed with more
economy, and conceive that a judicious arrange-
2