Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 20.djvu/114

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VEKNON. pamphlets, he was removed from his command in 174U, but continued a member of Parliament until his death. VERNON GALLERY. A collection of Eng- lish paintings, formerly the property of Robert Vernon, now forming part of the National Gal- lery. London, to wliifh it was given in 1847. VER'NON - HAR'COURT, Sir William George Granville Vexables. An English statesman. See Harcovrt, Sir William. VERONA, va-ro'na. A city of Italy, the capital of the Province of Verona, 71 miles by rail west of Venice (Map: Italj-, F_2). The swift Adige traverses the city in a zigzag. It is crossed by seven bridges. Verona is a fortress of the first "class and holds the key to the Tyrol. It is. with the exception of Venice, the nio.st famous and attractive city of Venetia, and is both prosperous and jnogressive. Its numerous weather-stained white marble palaces, richly sculptured, wath eridences of having been painted, and often standing below the grade of the modern streets, give it an air of sumptuous decay, which efl'ect is offset, how- ever, by the abundant signs of its modern thrift. Its wails are pierced by several handsome gates. By far the larger part of the town is on the right bank of the Adige, where, in the centre, on the large and impressive Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, rises the celebrated Roman amphitheatre. This .splendid, well-preserved ruin, dating from the reign of Diocletian, is 168 yards long and 106 feet high, and could accommodate over 20,000 per.sons. It is still used. On the PiaEza and in the immediate vicinity are to be seen the iMunicipio ; fragments of the old Roman wall ; an ancient Franciscan monastery, now closed, but containing the mediocre sarcophagus known to disillusioned sight-seers as the tomb of .Juliet ; and the Museo Lapidario. with classic inscrip- tions and antique marbks. From the Piazza extends southward the spacious and splendid Corso of the same name, and to the southeast stretches the likewise spacious Via Pallone — the latter reaching the river where, on the opposite side, lies the cemetery. The Piazza is connected with the important Piazza del Erbe, on the northeast, by the busy Via Nuova Lastricata and Via Nuova, which together form the busiest thorouglifare of the city, especially at night. In the vicinity is the marlile tablet marking the portal of an old and uninspiring house locally said to have been .Tulict's home. A high tower afTording n fine view of city and country, a very ancient foun- tain liearing Ihe statue of Verona, a marl)le col- uiTiii surmounted by the Venetian Linn of Saint ^lark. ami lu-iiud palaces with frescoed fa(;ades, here add interest to the hustling scene. .Adjacent on the northeast is the Piazza dei Rignori, beauti- fied by archways (with portraits) which span the entrances. It is surrounded by palaces dating from the time of the Scaligers, and contains the famous statue of Dante by Zannoni. Of these palaces the Loggia, or Palazzo del Consiglio, is the most conspicsous. The superl) structure in early Renaissance was a creation of Fra Onocondo (1.500), and is adorned with statues of the an- cient Romans who were born in Verona — among iMem Catullus. Cornelius Xepos ( probalily ) . PUhv the Younger, and Vitruvius. Near bv is the far- 84 VERONA. famed tomb of the Scaligers, rising in a small paved square. The grave Gothic outlines of the monument appear behind lofty railings in which are to be seen recurring ladders — the family emblem. Farther north, and in the extreme bend of the Adige, stands the uninteresting Gothic cathedral. It contain.?, however, a fine "Assumption" by Titian. Northwest of the Roman Amphitheatre, and on the river bank, stands the battlemented C'astel Vecchio (1355), from which a venerable pin- nacled bridge stretches to the northern shore. Hence, to the northeast, extends the spacious and imposing Corso Cavour. bordered by fine palaces. It is a prominent thoroughfare. It leads north- east toward the Porta de' Borsari — a triumphal arch constructed A.D. 265. On the southwest it connects, near the Castel Vecchio. with the broad fine street leading southwest to the attract ive Porta del Palio. In the extreme western cor- ner of the city, and near the river, rises the Church of San Zeno ]Iaggiore, dating from 1139. It ranks among the finest Romanesque churches in Italy, and is notable for its symmetries. It contains a valued painting by Mantegna, and the fine bronze toml) of the saint. By the Ponte Navi, on the opposite side of the city' stands the medieval Church of San Fermo ilaggiore, with a striking facade. The narrow, curving, and extended section of the city on the left bank, with the cemetery on the south, is called Veronetta. The municipal museum and the picture gallery are situated here by the Ponte Navi. in the majestic Palazzo Pompei. over- looking the river. The edifice was constructed by Sammicheli and now belongs to the city. The paintings are nearly all of the Veronese school. Farther north looms the commanding Castel San Pietro, where a fortress of Theodorie the Great stood. It is now used as barracks. The ancient Church of Santo Stefano. restored by Theodorie, and the San Giorgio in Braida are near. Verona has a royal seminary, an industrial school, and a deaf and dumb institution. The Biblioteca Capitolare contains valuable palimp- sests, among them the In.'itituies of Gaius. The municipal library was established in 1860. The city is provided with numerous hospitals, in- cluding a military hospital, an asylum for the aged, and one for paupers and beggars, public dormitories, and three associations for t,%king care of poor children. There are cotton, paper, and flour mills, an immense nail factory, and piano and organ factories. Silks, soap, sugar, and candles are also manufactured. There are besides the new arsenal and extensive artillery cstalilishments. Verona is important in the Italian traflie with Switzerland, .ustria, and Germany. It deals in wines, fruits, rice, and marble. At the head of the nuuiicipal govern- ment is a syndic. The population in 1001 was 74,271. Verona was conspicuous in its architecture already in media'val times, and with the Renais- sance came Fra Giocondo and its military archi- tect Sanuniclieli. Vercma had an early and dis- tinct school of iiainting. which, like that of Ven- ii'e. excelled in coloring. The great master Paul Verimese came from hero. Verona also con- triliutcd worthily to sculpture. History. Verona was anciently a Rhtetian