DOI Heft:
No. 249 (January 1914)
DOI Artikel:Hyde, Frank: The island of the sirens
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21208#0309
The Island of the Sirens
MONTE SOLARO, CAPRI, SHOWING BARBAROSSA S CASTLE ON THE SUMMIT 2000
FEET ABOVE THE SEA
are an artist you grow crazy with the longing to
paint it, and when you try it is only to realise what
a hopeless task it is to attempt to reproduce those
tender peacock blues and greens, and the liquid
gold of those reflections from the sunburnt rocks.
One of the most picturesque and at the same
time impressive sights of Capri is the Feast of the
Patron Saint of the town, San Costanzo, with its
long winding procession of Fratelli and Figlie di
Maria, the men wearing their white robes and
silver medals, the young
girls their white dresses and
light blue veils, all carrying
lighted candles. Picture
to yourself the rich colour-
ing of the priests’ robes, the
clouds of sweet-smelling
incense, the banners, the
exploding fireworks. The
procession advances; high
on the shoulders of the
white-robed Fratelli is
borne the silver image of
their Saint, whose breast is
aflame with precious
stones; the canopy of
crimson and gold is
almost buried beneath the
shower of golden gincstra
and rose leaves thrown
from the roofs as the
chanting procession
threads its way between
the domed houses of the
old town. One’s gaze is
attracted to the peasant
girls in their old-time
costumes; their wonderful
classical faces, their rich
nut-brown colouring and
blue-black hair, done up
in braids adorned with
sprigs of flowering myrtle,
or enveloped in sunfaded,
yellow handkerchiefs.
How we revelled in this
blaze of colour !
In those days the artists
married these Capri girls,
and no wonder! They
made excellent wives, for
bear in mind it was a
homely, simple life the
artists led, and these dark-
eyed beauties were irresistibly fascinating in their
native simplicity. They loved to pose for us, never
forgetting to ask us to their marriage feasts and
christenings ; in return we gave Tarantellas in our
studios, inviting the girls and their young men, the
old folk lending their aid with tambourine and
corogoro, a very primitive musical instrument.
There was plenty of Capri wine too—huge piretti
—with sweets and cakes for the little nut-brown,
bare-legged kiddies.
PROCESSION OF THE FIGLIE DI MARIA, CAPRI
287
MONTE SOLARO, CAPRI, SHOWING BARBAROSSA S CASTLE ON THE SUMMIT 2000
FEET ABOVE THE SEA
are an artist you grow crazy with the longing to
paint it, and when you try it is only to realise what
a hopeless task it is to attempt to reproduce those
tender peacock blues and greens, and the liquid
gold of those reflections from the sunburnt rocks.
One of the most picturesque and at the same
time impressive sights of Capri is the Feast of the
Patron Saint of the town, San Costanzo, with its
long winding procession of Fratelli and Figlie di
Maria, the men wearing their white robes and
silver medals, the young
girls their white dresses and
light blue veils, all carrying
lighted candles. Picture
to yourself the rich colour-
ing of the priests’ robes, the
clouds of sweet-smelling
incense, the banners, the
exploding fireworks. The
procession advances; high
on the shoulders of the
white-robed Fratelli is
borne the silver image of
their Saint, whose breast is
aflame with precious
stones; the canopy of
crimson and gold is
almost buried beneath the
shower of golden gincstra
and rose leaves thrown
from the roofs as the
chanting procession
threads its way between
the domed houses of the
old town. One’s gaze is
attracted to the peasant
girls in their old-time
costumes; their wonderful
classical faces, their rich
nut-brown colouring and
blue-black hair, done up
in braids adorned with
sprigs of flowering myrtle,
or enveloped in sunfaded,
yellow handkerchiefs.
How we revelled in this
blaze of colour !
In those days the artists
married these Capri girls,
and no wonder! They
made excellent wives, for
bear in mind it was a
homely, simple life the
artists led, and these dark-
eyed beauties were irresistibly fascinating in their
native simplicity. They loved to pose for us, never
forgetting to ask us to their marriage feasts and
christenings ; in return we gave Tarantellas in our
studios, inviting the girls and their young men, the
old folk lending their aid with tambourine and
corogoro, a very primitive musical instrument.
There was plenty of Capri wine too—huge piretti
—with sweets and cakes for the little nut-brown,
bare-legged kiddies.
PROCESSION OF THE FIGLIE DI MARIA, CAPRI
287