I do not see what a full-length marble statue could have had
that was lacking in this little ivory figure of hardly more than a foot
high. It is about two centuries old, by an unknown artist. There is
another famous ivory statuette in Avignon which seems to be more
celebrated than this, but can hardly be superior. I shall gladly look at
it if it comes in my way.
Next to this, the prettiest thing the man showed us was a circle of
emeralds, in one of the holy implements; and then he exhibited a little
bit or a pope's skull; also a great old crozier, that looked as if made
chiefly of silver, and partly gilt; but I saw where the plating of silver
was worn away, and betrayed the copper of its actual substance. There
were two or three pictures in the sacristy, by ancient and modern French
artists, very unlike the productions of the Italian masters, but not
without a beauty of their own.
Leaving the sacristy, we returned into the church, where U---- and J-----
began to draw the pope's old stone chair.
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