158 
observation, 
in 
order 
to 
giVe 
decided 
and 
appropriate character to an Evangelist of the 
Gospel. None of the pictures of this artist 
possess the excellence of his St. Mark except 
one, which is in the city of Lucca, the capital 
of the republic of that name ; 
and, 
as that pic- 
ture 
is 
but 
little 
known 
to 
travellers, 
and 
almost 
unknown 
to 
many 
artists 
who 
have 
visited Italy, 
I111- 
a description of it may not be 
acceptable. 
" The picture is on pannel, and its dimensions 
somewhat about twenty feet in height by four- 
teen in width. 
The 
subject 
is the Assumption 
of the Virgin Mary. 
The composition is divided 
into three groups ; 
Apostles 
the 
and 
.the 
sepul-A 
chre form the centre group, 
from 
the 
midst 
of 
Vlrgm 
which the 
ascends ; 
her 
body-drape1'Y 
is 
which is the only decided 
of a deep ruby colour, 
red in the picture, 
and her mantle 
blue, 
but 
in 
depth of tone approaching to black, and ex; 
tended. by angels to nearly each side of the pic- 
ture. 
This mantle is: re_1ieved by a light, 
in tone 
of the 
resembling that 
break 
day, 
of 
S6811 
OV61' 
a. dark mountain, 
summit of 
the 
Vwhich gives an