42
parte’s favourite generals, Marshals Durocand Bessieres , were lying in state. Thechurch of St. Sulpice is esteemed oneof the most beautiful in Paris . The exte-rior of the Corinthian order is very fine:but the chapel of the Virgin, behind ithegrand altar, occupied all my attention. Ina recess behind some pillars of Languedocmarble, which are above thoaltar of thislittle chapel, there is a figure of the Virginin a body of clouds, which curl around thepillars, and flying before her discover herin the midst. This, executed in whitemarble with all the soft lightness of floatingdrapery and fleecy vapours, has a moststriking effect, and the light is admitted insuch a manner from above, that one knowsnot from whence it comes. Several pillarssupport the roof of this chapel, which is adome borne upon a circular cornice project-ing several feet, and painted by LeMoine torepresent the opened Heavens, with the Al-mighty and all the Heavenly Host; andwhich being of much larger dimensions thanthe cornice, the eye has no fixed point bywhich to judge of the distance of the plane