. A tour through Italy : exhibiting a view of its scenery, its antiquities, and its monuments, particularly as they are objects of classical interest and elucidation : with an account of the present state of its cities and towns : and occasional observations on the recent spoliations of the French . gion,requires that the altar should be in the centre, a positionwhich it cannot occupy in the Pantheon, owing to the apertureperpendicularly over it. In fact a round temple is not, evenwhen arranged to the best advantage, nearly so suitable or com-modious for a christian assembly as the Basilica, w
. A tour through Italy : exhibiting a view of its scenery, its antiquities, and its monuments, particularly as they are objects of classical interest and elucidation : with an account of the present state of its cities and towns : and occasional observations on the recent spoliations of the French . gion,requires that the altar should be in the centre, a positionwhich it cannot occupy in the Pantheon, owing to the apertureperpendicularly over it. In fact a round temple is not, evenwhen arranged to the best advantage, nearly so suitable or com-modious for a christian assembly as the Basilica, with its corres-ponding aisles, raised chancel, and semicircular termination.*Leaving therefore to the Pantheon its principal character of atemple, I would set it apart as a mausoleum, sacred to thememory and remains of persons peculiarly distinguished bygreat talents and splendid public virtues ; of that class in shortwhom Virgil places in Elysium and ranks among demigods andheroes. In the centre might arise, on a lofty pedestal of steps,an altar of black marble, destined solely for the service of the * See ground plots of the principal Basilicae converted into churches, at the endSIILirA of S? LA^WMlETTrK yjB The taitU ^- /riM-A- tlu- nMiBons of latfr « ?•? —^ t 6 « » » * I Ji r fi-n-ti c f s A Bis?w/>A T?tivfii BB Seats- iVHir ,7:,- r Jltarovfrthf ,/ X! L,i D Die Chim- E E ^libones urJ^iiliiLf ¥ H llie VtJIilmh Un,l,„l h \Lu,„„„ THROUGH ITALY. 327 dead, supporting a cross of alabaster, half veiled in brazendrapery. At the corners of the altar four antique candelabramight pour a stream of solemn light on the funereal scenearound. The monuments might occupy the niches, line thewall, and, when numerous, rise in circles around the , as the number of distinguished personages who deservethe honor of a public funeral is small, a length of time wouldelapse, perhaps many centuries, before t
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1810, booksubjectitalyde, bookyear1813
