Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/191

Rh ner: a square frame was made of planks about two braccia high, with four strong legs at the angles, which were bound fast together beneath, after the manner of trestles; across this frame were laid two planks, each one braccia wide, and having an opening in the centre, half a braccia in diameter, from which arose an upright pole supporting a Mandorla, or Glory, entirely covered with cotton wool, amidst which were angels, lights, and other ornaments. In this there was an iron fixed across, whereon was placed, seated or standing, as was desired, a person who represented that Saint whom the Brotherhood in question principally honoured as their advocate and protector; whether it were the Saviour, the Madonna, St. John, or any other Saint, the vestments of the figure concealing the iron in such sort that it was not seen. To the pole which supported the Mandorla, were fastened four or more iron bars, serving in the manner of branches to a tree; they were fixed around and beneath the Mandorla, and to these irons were secured little children clothed to 'represent angels, who were free to move at their pleasure on the bracket supporting their feet, which was formed with hinges in a manner suited to that end. By means of such branches, three or four circles of angels or of saints, according to the subject represented, were occasionally exhibited. The whole of this structure, which sometimes represented a Lily, sometimes a Tree, but most frequently a Cloud, or something similar, was concealed by the cotton-wool, and was occupied, as we have before said, by cherubim, seraphim, &c., or covered with golden stars and other ornaments. Within them were concealed peasants or porters, who carried the machine on their shoulders, arranging themselves around the wood-work, which we have called a frame, to the under part of which were fixed cushions of leather filled with feathers, cotton, or some other soft and yielding material, to prevent the weight from pressing too painfully on their shoulders. The stairs for ascending these structures and every other part, being covered, as we have said above, with cotton-wool, a very good effect was produced, and all these contrivances were called Nuvole (clouds). Behind these erections followed men on horseback, and soldiers of various kinds on foot, according to the demands of the event to be represented, as they do in the present day behind the cars or other carriages