kets_,
throwing them out in bold projection (not less than a foot and a half)
beyond the mouldings of the arch; a practice utterly barbarous,
inasmuch as it evidently tends to dislocate the entire arch, if any
real weight were laid on the extremity of the keystone; and it is also
a very characteristic example of the vulgar and painful mode of
filling spandrils by naked figures in alto-relievo, leaning against
the arch on each side, and appearing as if they were continually in
danger of slipping off. Many of these figures have, however, some
merit in themselves; and the whole building is graceful and effective
of its kind. The continuation of the Procuratie Nuove, at the western
extremity of St. Mark's Place (together with various apartments in the
great line of the Procuratie Nuove) forms the "Royal Palace," the
residence of the Emperor when at Venice. This building is entirely
modern, built in 1810, in imitation of the Procuratie Nuove, and on
the site of Sansovino's Church of San Geminiano.

In this range of buildings, including the Royal Palace, the Procuratie
Nuove, the old Library, and the "Zecca" which is connected with them
(the latter being an ugly building of very modern date, not worth
notice architecturally), there are many most valuable pictures, among
which I would especially direct attention, first to those in the
Zecca, namely, a beautiful and strange Madonna, by Benedetto Diana;
two noble Bonifazios; and two groups, by Tintoret, of the Provveditori
della Zecca, by no means to be missed, whatever may be sacrificed to
see them, on account of the quietness and veracity of their unaffected
portraiture, and the absolute freedom from all vanity either in the
painter or in his subjects.

Next, in the "Antisala" of the old Library, observe the "Sapienza" of
Titian, in the centre of the ceiling; a most interesting work in the
light brilliancy of its color, and the resemblance to Paul Veronese.
Then, in the great hall of the old Library, examine the two large
Tintorets, "St. Mark saving a Saracen from Drowning," and the
"Stealing of his Body from Constantinople," both rude, but great (note
in the latter the dashing of the rain on the pavement, and running of
the water about the feet of the figures): then in the narrow spaces
between the windows, there are some magnificent single figures by
Tintoret, among t