The american author Henry James (1843-1916) published “Italian Hours” in 1909, collecting essays written in over forty years of traveling about Italy.“Tuscan Cities” was first published on “The Nation” in 1874, here is a not too flattering excerpt on Livorno and its “Four Moors”:
In a shabby corner near the docks stands a statue of one of the elder Grand Dukes of Tuscany, appealing to posterity on grounds now vague--chiefly that of having placed certain Moors under tribute.
Four colossal negroes, in very bad bronze, are chained to the base of the monument, which forms with their assistance a sufficiently fantastic group; but to patronise the arts is not the line of the Livornese, and for want of the slender annuity which would keep its precinct sacred this curious memorial is buried in dockyard rubbish.
(Henry James, “Italian Hours”, Tuscan Cities, London, Heinemann, 1909)
See also: Four Moors - Cavour
7 comments:
It's amazing that the models were rewarded with freedom at the end of the pose!
Henry James the Terrible!
:-)
It's not buried in 'dockyard rubbish' anymore, is it? Because it's a fascinating piece. Horrid too, but that's a separate matter.
An illuminating post...and a pretty fine photograph, too.
Boy! Tell us what you really think, Henry.
Very interesting and sad too!
Great picture!
Léia
I had to smile. Henry James was a good writer. This is a most interesting sculpture.
I enjoyed your post very much today!
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