LAGO DI COMO, ITALY
Artist: W. L. Leitch ____________ Engraver: S. Fisher |
Note: the title in the table above is printed below the engraving
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PRINT DATE: This engraving was printed in 1841; it is not a modern reproduction in any way.
PRINT SIZE: Overall print size is 7 1/2 inches by 10 inches including white borders which are not shown in the scan above, the actual scene is 5 inches by 7 1/2 inches.
PRINT CONDITION: Condition is excellent. Bright and clean. Blank on reverse. Paper is quality woven rag stock paper.
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FROM THE ORIGINAL DESCRIPTION: "I love to sail along the Larian lake
Under the shore-though not to visit Pliny,
To catch him musing in his plane-tree walk,
Or fishing, as he might be, from his window."
ROGIBRS.
Como, the Larian Lake, retains its ancient character and dimensions, and, partially, even its classic name. It is so irregular in form, consisting of three totally distinct branches, that, in completing the voyage of its whole length, about fifty miles, the intersection of these arms must be passed and revisited. The average breadth, about three miles, is disproportioned to the length, but the tripartite character of the whole area corrects this defect, and converts it into a peculiar beauty, such a width being amply sufficient for each natural division. At the northern extremity is the pass of the Spiligen, down which, through the Val San Giacomo, fall those waters that supply the uppermost part of the liarian, and which are distinguished by the name of Lago di Chiavenna, or di Riva, from " a pestiferous spot of this name, on the margin of Lake Como, were the scenery is beautiful, but the atmosphere malignant. The mal'aria issues in such abundance from the marshy soil, that to sleep a night here is the certainty of a dangerous fever." The same noxious quality of climate exists at the embouchure of the Adda, where a military structure was raised, in the year 1604, by the Marquis de Fuentes; but the map aria, from the deadly marshes that surround it, has always constituted its best defence. The traveller who approaches Lake Como by the pass of the Splugen, should step from his carriage into his boat at Biva, and descend the Lake ', delay here may be dangerous; and the shallows, in this division of the waters, prevent the ascent of the steamboats above Gravedona, which is directly opposite to the spot where the stream of the Adda issues from the Val Teline. The shores are everywhere indented with creeks and harbours, the surface subject to frequent and sudden agitation, and the depth of the waters very unequal. From the Lago di Chiavenna, and at Bellaggio point, the lake extends, in a direction south-west, to Como, where it is called Lago di Como; and south-east, to Lecco, where it assumes the name of that town. In the former branch the inconstancy of the waters is remarkable: pent up at Como, they endeavour to return towards Bellaggio, in which effort they are frequently interrupted by the eddying winds that sweep down the mountains breasts; and so sudden is the transition from a calm to a tempest, that, before the introduction of steamboats, the navigation of Lake Como, properly so called, was perilous in the extreme. More confidence may be reposed in the tranquil aspect of Lago di Lecco, for there, as if content with the near approach of liberty, through the expanding channel of the Adda, the waters remain continually at rest. Along the margin of the lake, towns, villages, villas, vineyards, and orchards are continued with little interruption; above which, a belt of chesnut groves marks the limit of fertility on the mountains, the higher regions either giving support to forests of pine -being totally denuded-or partly covered with perpetual snow. The whole of this grand panorama, consisting of three sunny lakes, overhung by stupendous mountains, at whose feet sleep so many of the happiest-looking retreats in the fairest of countries, is taken in at a single glance from the point of Bellaggio. This is the attractive spot, this the principal station, on which the passing visitor should take up his position, and gaze on the unrivalled beauties of Como. This view possesses all the comprehensiveness, without any of the distortion, that belongs to a bird's-eye prospect. " There is nothing, says the author of the Diary of an Invalid, "in the Lago Maggiore, nor perhaps in any other lake, that can be put in competition with the view from this point of the Lake of Como." Bellaggio is also still believed to be the site of Pliny's Villa, quaintly called Comeedia, his Trageedia being somewhere near to Lenno, where the severe character of the rocks affords a clue to the deacription, "shod it like a bwkin ," while Comffiduc, which Just touched the shore, "wore only sandals." Here now is the exquisite Villa of Count Melz", by whose taste, genius, and wealth it was embellished 80 as to be equal to any in Europe. Here also are extensive and beautiful gardens, a collection of choice paintings, besides groups of statuary, amongst which "Dante led by Beatrice," is of exquisite symmetry.
It appears to have formed a prominent part in every accomplished visitor's occupation at Corn o, to ascertain the precise spot on which Pliny's Villa stood, and Capuana, from a mosaic pavement found there, has been included in the conjectural examination. Another circumstantial proof of identity between the site of the modern village, and that of the Plinian Villa, is the proximity of II Fiume di Latte, so called from the milky colour of its foam. Bursting from the mouth of a cavern in the mountain's front, it falls with impetuosity down a declivity of nearly a thousand feet, into a rocky basin. Its appearance, however, is but semi-annual, and its duration only from March to September. The only explanation of this peculiarity is, that the cavern communicates, for a great length, with the icy summit of the mountains, and, during the melting of the snow, acts as a conduit by which the waters are carried down with rapidity to the valley.
II Fiume di Latte retains but an imperfect conformity-with the description of the intermittent spring given by Pliny; its total diappearance would indicate that it has cither changed its character, or is a completely different phenomenon from that described by the naturalist. Local tradition, and the investigations of classical writers, conducted with unparalleled industry and enthusiasm, combine in surrendering to the Spring at the Pliniana, the honour of being that fountain which was observed by the elder Pliny, and described by the younger. In a court-yard behind the present palace of Pliniana, the celebrated fountain is seen, still retaining all the properties which the philosopher gave it, and his description is written, in legible characters, in the principal hall. The ebb and flow are tolerably regular-in fair weather thrice a-day, but in stormy seasons its motions are considerably affected. These interesting phenomena, which are most probably the same described by Pliny, are believed to be caused by the agency of a tube, or siphon, formed by nature, and passing through the clay and the rock, Other localities, such as the exquisite vicinity of Lenno, where a subterraneous temple with astatue of Diana, was discovered, are admitted to possess no contemptible claims to the honour of being Plinian, but, as the decision partly rests upon the selection of the most delightful site upon the margin of Como, amongst so many beauties, time will be required to make an unexceptionable, which may perhaps also be an invidious, choice.
Few who visit the scenery of Lake Como will pass away without inquiring for the Villa D'Este, during three years the residence of the unhappy Caroline of Brunswick, Princess of Wales, and, for a brief period. Queen of England. The neglect which she had experienced from her royal husband, and the prejudice which his favourites had created against her in England, induced her, indiscreetly, to quit that country, and to live in exile from her kingdom. Here she exercised a boundless charity; and her munificence in the execution of useful public works, is attested by the inscription on a marble tablet, informing the traveller that, the first road ever opened on the banks of Lake Gomo, owed its origin and completion to the liberality of Queen Caroline of England. When the Milan Commission, a plot that reflects dishonour upon the English name, was instituted, and the palace of Villa d'Este was encircled by spies, the Princess abandoned her favourite home, strictly commanding her Hungarian guards not to permit an English visitor to enter. In the drawing-room, as well as in the theatre which she built, her cipher may still be seen. General Pino preceded the Princess in the occupation of the Villa d'Este, and having, in his earlier years, besieged and taken Tarragona, in order to perpetuate his military fame, he caused the walls of the Villa to be battlemented, and rendered somewhat similar to those of the city which had been captured by his gallantry.
Please note: the terms used in our auctions for engraving, etching, aquatint, lithograph, plate, photogravure etc. are ALL prints on paper, and NOT blocks of steel or wood or any other material. "ENGRAVINGS", the term commonly used for these paper prints, were the most common method in the 1700s and 1800s for illustrating old books, and these paper prints or "engravings" were created by the intaglio process of etching the negative of the image into a block of steel, copper, wood etc, and then when inked and pressed onto paper, a print image was created. These prints or engravings were usually inserted into books, although many were also printed and issued as loose stand alone lithographs. They often had a tissue guard or onion skin frontis to protect them from transferring their ink to the opposite page and were usually on much thicker quality woven rag stock paper than the regular prints. So this auction is for an antique paper print(s), probably from an old book, of very high quality and usually on very thick rag stock paper.
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