Campbell, Elizabeth (1783 – 1861) – Italy; Lazio, ‘Interior of the Grotta di Collepardo’.

EXTRACT FROM THE ARTIST'S JOURNAL: "The Cavern penetrates nearly a mile thro' the mountain; formed of immense stalactites of all shapes & of immense size, a great variety of appearance, sometimes like a Gothic building, sometimes a large round chamber. The glare of the torches splitting in the faces of stalactites, most seen thro' a perforation of the rock, now far above & much below, the bright flames of the torches, & confused projections, the crackling fire, the cries of the people, their screams & bellows, with the fine effect of rising a mist, & shade made on those of the region below, & that we were surrounded by the beings of another world. The formation of the cavern being the effect of water which is constantly oozing out & dropping about, footing on most hazardous climbing up inclined banks as slippery as ice & nearly in the dark. I had one amazing tumble, & sliding on downwards & felt wonderous whom I should stop, when some friendly hand arrested my progress. The dirt & blackness of the cavern is a great draw back to its beauty. I never saw more ample testimony to this fact. Perhaps this may be caused by the smoke of torches & fires, for a piece of the stalactite when broken was the usual color of petrified water." 11th April