PALERMO Sicily Italy - 1850 Antique Print

Description: Print Specifics: Type of print: Intaglio, Steel engraving - Original antique printYear of printing: not indicated in the print - actual: 1850 Publisher: H.C. Crockett, John Tallis & Company, London and New York Condition: 1 (1. Excellent - 2. Very good - 3. Good - 4. Fair). Small brownish spot in upper right corner of the image. Dimensions: 7.5 x 10 inches, (18,5 x 25 cm) including blank margins (borders) around the image. Paper weight: 2 (1. Thick - 2. Heavier - 3. Medium heavy - 4. Slightly heavier - 5. Thin)Reverse side: BlankNote: Green border around the print is a contrasting background on which the print was photographed. Original Narrative: From Messina to Palermo — our next destination — we passed, for a considerable distance, through the valley of Demona, with which is associated sundry wild and appalling legends, which, however, are not suggested by the lovely slopes themselves. Finally, we arrived in Palermo — the ancient Panormus — and found much to interest us in this celebrated capital. Beggary of the lowest kind is here a characteristic, and the opulent look of the city is placed in strong contrast with the general penury of the people. Swarthy African features meet us on every hand, and the Marina is crowded with them. Most of the well-laid-out streets lead into the great centres of attraction, the Strada Cossaro, and the Strada Nuovo ; and as the Palermitans are fond of being much out of doors when the sun is not too powerful, these thoroughfares, with their gay crowds and thronging equipages, form very attractive pictures, even while the grated windows of the convents rise above all in an ominous manner. Although the buildings bear no comparison with those of Italy, there are noble palaces, delicious gardens, and churches of great beauty, which will amply repay a visit. There are also places of resort and amusement without the town which possess features of peculiar and varied attraction, amongst which are the edifices of Saracenic origin, where two beautiful sultanas once lived and reigned. Among the villas of the nobility is one at La Bagaria, where the interior architecture of a portion is distorted into the figures of women writhing into monsters, aided by a collection whose horrible grotesqueness suggests the fancy that, at one time, these creatures suddenly petrified, and remain proofs of some gorgonian power to this very day. The festival of St. Rosalia — the saints, it is observed, are always there young and lovely — is one of the gayest in the calendar, and the 15th of July is an absolute carnival. There are hidden in nooks and comers two specimens of rare and striking architecture, which the artist will do well to embody, if ever so hastily, in his sketch-book, and fill up the details at leisure. Contrasts of style are here more violent and glaring than we remarked elsewhere ; but the effect is rather agreeable on the whole, especially to one who is not over-captious, and generally willing to take things as they are. Martin2001 Satisfaction Guaranteed Policy! Any print purchased from me may be returned for any (or no) reason for a full refund including all postage. Internet seller since 1998.Five-star service.

Price: 17.16 USD

Location: Manassas, Virginia

End Time: 2025-01-26T22:05:27.000Z

Shipping Cost: 4.65 USD