Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 02 (of 10): Berna to Michelozzo MichelozziVasari, Giorgio
History
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 02 (of 10): Berna to Michelozzo Michelozzi
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
His Disputation with the Doctors in the Temple, wherein the admiration
and the attention which the Doctors give to Christ are no less well
expressed than the joy of Mary and Joseph at finding Him again. Above
these--beginning again over the Annunciation--there follows the story of
the Baptism of Christ by John in the Jordan, wherein there are seen in
their gestures the reverence of the one and the faith of the other.
Beside this there follows the Temptation of Christ by the Devil, who,
terrified by the words of Jesus, stands in an attitude of terror,
showing thereby that he knows Him to be the Son of God. Next to this, on
the other side, is the scene where He is driving the traders from the
Temple, overturning their money and the victims, doves, and other
merchandise; wherein the figures, falling over each other, have a very
beautiful and well conceived grace in their headlong flight. Next to
this Lorenzo placed the shipwreck of the Apostles, wherein S. Peter is
issuing from the ship and is sinking into the water, and Christ is
upholding him. This scene shows an abundance of various gestures in the
Apostles, who are toiling to save the ship; and the faith of S. Peter is
recognized in his coming towards Christ. Beginning again above the story
of the Baptism, on the other side, there is His Transfiguration on Mount
Tabor, wherein Lorenzo demonstrated, in the attitudes of the three
Apostles, how celestial visions dazzle the eyes of mortals; even as the
Divinity of Christ is also recognized as He holds His head high and His
arms outstretched, between Elias and Moses. And next to this is the
Resurrection of the dead Lazarus, who, having issued from the sepulchre,
is standing upright with his feet and his hands bound, to the marvel of
the bystanders. Martha is there, with Mary Magdalene, who is kissing the
feet of the Lord with very great humility and reverence. Beside this, on
the other half of the door, there follows the scene when He rides on an
ass into Jerusalem, while the children of the Hebrews, in various
attitudes, are casting their garments on the ground, with the olives and
palms; not to mention the Apostles, who are following the Saviour. And
next to this is the Last Supper, very beautiful and well composed, the
Apostles being placed at a long table, half on the near side and half on
the farther side. Above the scene of the Transfiguration there is the
Prayer in the Garden, wherein the three Apostles are seen asleep in
various attitudes. And beside this there follows the scene when He is
taken and Judas kisses Him, wherein there are many things worthy of
consideration, since we see therein both the Apostles, who are flying,
and the Jews, who, in taking Christ, are making most violent gestures
and efforts. On the other side, next to this, is the scene when He is
bound to the Column, wherein is the figure of Jesus Christ writhing not
a little with the pain of the blows, in a pitiful attitude, while there
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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