72
lasquez, Rubens, Da Vinci, etc. I may mention here
by the by that Vasari makes out Pietro Perugino to
have been any thing but a saint, and would almost
have one believe that poor Pietro was an atheist: if
this had been the case and generally known, he
could hardly have had the sfacciataggine to paint his
own portrait holding a scroll in one hand on which
is written in very legible characters Timete Deum.-
Leaving the Venetian school on the left is a small
passage or corridor containing some excellent works
of Luca della Robbia, Mino da Fiesole, etč.
Hall of Niobe.—These celebrated statues by some
supposed to be the work of Praxyteles, seem however
on a close examination to be by several hands: some
are inferior to the rest and two are repeated. The
colossal group of the mother and the youngest child
are amongst the finest pieces of ancient sculpture;
perhaps Niobe herself is almost too matronly; but it
must be kept in mind that these statues which ap¬
pear to have ornamented a pediment, were placed
at a considerable height and distance from the spec¬
tator. —The two immense pictures by Rubens, which
decorate this saloon, formed part of the collection of
the Louvre. Henry the fourth at the battle of Ivry
is wonderful for true pictorial fire and animation;
the white horse especially. Its pendant is greatly
inferior, and seems in part to have been painted by
Jordans. — Leaving the Niobe follow the corridor
taking a glance as you go on, till you arrive at the