Submitted by scott on Sat, 03/24/2012 - 12:40

The pilgrims visit the rather macabre Capuchin Crypt, wherein the bones of deceased monks of the order are used as a sort of sculptures. It is said they are not meant tio be macabre but as " a silent reminder of the swift passage of life on Earth.". Twain also remarks that there are few art works of historical events in Rome, except for the Rape of the Sabines. This is my second attempt to use Blip.tv as a platform for serving the video slide shows. It should be automatically linked to a YouTube version as well.

Reading Date
November 8, 2011
SL Venue
Fate Gardens

Twain Chapter Comments

SLC and companions probably departed Rome for Naples by train; QC arrived at Naples, where it was quarantined for a week.

I remove the Blip link and replaced it with the YouTube. The video is the same in either case.

Twain remarks that the only historical scene either sculpted or painted by Romans was the Rape of the Sabines, "and they chose it for the legs and busts.". I've been searching for a rendition of this scene in Rome but have not been able to locate an example. Twain did see the famous statue in Florence and may have thought the Rape of Proserpina by Gian Lorenzo Bernini. c. 1621, found in the Galleria Borghese portrayed the same event.