Englishwoman's travel journal of Italy, 1861 February 1-May 3.

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Englishwoman's travel journal of Italy, 1861 February 1-May 3.

Collection comprises a travel journal (133 pgs.) "Journal of our Tour through Italy in the spring of 1861 [A faithful record of facts, impressions, and memories.] Vol. 1" kept by an anonymous Englishwoman. Members of the travel party included the author, Ellen Lee-Warner and her daughter, Rosie, cousins Lucy and Harry, a Miss Rosenberg, and the party's travel guide.The author might have been a relative of the Lee-Warner family, but this relationship could not be confirmed. The trip began in Paris, proceeded via train to Marseille, by steamer to Italy, then by coach to Rome. The bulk of the journal focuses on the nine weeks the party spent in Rome, before heading South to Naples and Pompeii. The author was highly educated, and described topography, nature, architecture, weather, artwork, tourist sites, people and social life. The party visited many sculpture studios in Rome, and sculptors Harriet Goodhue Hosmer and John Gibson are mentioned. Of Pompeii the author wrote, "The half overthrown walls, the disinterred amphitheatres, the ghost like rows of white columns, the lifeless streets, and the priest less temples are all singular memorials of their age, but when its dark story rises before me and the dusty legends of a thousand years old are whispered among its ruins ... it becomes doubly strange in its strong sharply defined contrast to our present habits, & thoughts" (3 May). Scattered throughout the journal are small (less than 1" x 1") albumen photographs of artwork or sites described in the surrounding text. Acquired as part of the William B. Hamilton Collection of British Manuscripts.

1 item (0.6 lin. ft.)

Related Entities

There are 4 Entities related to this resource.

Hosmer, Harriet Goodhue, 1830-1908

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6jv0g5f (person)

Harriet Goodhue Hosmer (October 9, 1830 – February 21, 1908) was a neoclassical sculptor, considered the most distinguished female sculptor in America during the 19th century. She is known as the first female professional sculptor. Among other technical innovations, she pioneered a process for turning limestone into marble. Hosmer once lived in an expatriate colony in Rome, befriending many prominent writers and artists. Harriet Hosmer was born on October 9, 1830 at Watertown, Massachusetts, ...

Lee-Warner family.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w630036p (family)

William B. Hamilton Collection of British Manuscripts.

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6810087 (corporateBody)

Gibson, John, 1790-1866

http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w6x3583s (person)

English sculptor. From the description of Autograph letter signed : Rome, to Lady Davy, 1848 Oct. 10. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 270878525 From the description of Letter, 1859 Mar. 2. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 80572007 From the description of Autograph letter signed : Eartham, Sussex, to Lady Bunbury, 1863 [Aug.] 12. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 269567386 From the description of Autograph letter signed : [Rome], [no year] Oct. 31. (Unknown). Worl...