Cosima's Diaries

Diary Entry of October 2, 1876

Overview

The morning was spent at the museum, followed by a fine drive over Posillipo in the afternoon. The antique statues and wall paintings left a grave, almost timeless impression, which stood in contrast to the city’s restless liveliness and stirred thoughts of quieter Venice.

Content

Monday, October 2:

To the museum in the morning; in the afternoon the drive over the Posillipo very fine! R. very much enjoys the hectic life here, and it really is the liveliest city imaginable, popular in the most extravagant sense of the word.

In the museum today I saw only the antique statues and wall paintings: a serious and noble impression, like the calm of immortality over the struggles of existence. Outside, the liveliest reality again; I think a lot about Venice the silent, the needy, where I should feel more at home.