Wednesday 21st March 1883
Visited first Trajan's forum and column. Then the Palazzo Rospigliosi where is seen the lovely ceiling picture of Aurora by Guido - a thorough gem. And the Fall [?] by Domenichino then the Pal Quirinale where we were shown the state room of the palace of the king of Italy, the state room and dining room very handsomely filled. Pal. Barberini celebrated for Guido's Beatrice Cenci and Raphael's Fornarina both of which are rather disappointing. Andrea del Sarto's holy family and Domenichino’s Adam and Eve were grand pictures; the Drunken Satyr of M.Angelo and Diana [?] very fine sculptures. Thermae of Diocletian and St Maria del angeli with tomb of Salvator Rosa. Pal. Doria is a fine palace but the pictures are not of first quality. After lunch called on Prof. Mazzoni and then down by Porta San Sebastian to Baths of Caracalla, vast ruin which shows what luxury and taste the old Romans possessed and then to the Catacombs of St. Calixtus along the via Appia on which are numerous sepulchral monuments. The catacombs are terrible and contain numerous sarcophagi and drawings done by the ancient Christians who used them as a refuge. Spent evening with Chev.1 Bosio of Turin, an agreeable Italian which I met.
1. Chevalier.
1. Chevalier.