The Ladies' Garland

VARIETY.

The Roman Catholic Cathedral, in Baltimore, is a noble structure, of massy stone, and has an air of solemn grandeur in its internal finishings. It is adorned with a considerable number of fine paintings; some of them from the hands of masters. Two large pictures attracted my attention. They are placed in a good light, and are much admired, both by cursory examiners and connoisseurs. The largest is the Descent from the Cross, from the pencil of Paul Veronese. The body of our Saviour recumbent on the ground, with the head a little raised. Mary Magdalen, on bended knees, is holding the hand of the deceased; John the Evangelist is supporting the fainting mother of Christ: Joseph of Arimathea is bending with clasped hands at the head of Jesus: near which is seen the crown of thorns lying on the ground; Mary of Siloam is standing in a praying attitude, and Mary the mother of James is agonizing in the group. These and three other figures, Nicodemus and his attendants, with one clasping the cross, said, I think, to be James, make up the whole. The light falls with a sort of supernatural splendor upon the Cross, and the effect of the whole is solemn and religious. Every day the votaries of religion and taste are seen, for hours together, gazing on this picture. It was a present from Louis XVIII. to this Cathedral, and is, in fact, an imperial gift. The second is the burial of Louis IX. and by one as much admired as the other, but I did not examine it sufficiently to give you a correct description of it --[Boston Gallery