Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/47

Rh hand this figure holds a small trident, he raises his vestments with the left, and stands with both feet on the chariot, which is covered with red, embroidered in gold, and bordered around with ermine: this chariot has four wheels like that of Mars, but is drawn by four dolphins, and followed by three sea-nymphs, two boys, and a vast number of fishes, all painted in a water-colour, similar to the terretta, and very beautiful. After these is seen Carthage in despair, figured by a woman standing upright with dishevelled hair: the upper part of the figure is clothed in green, the vestment is open from the waist downwards, it is lined with red cloth embroidered in gold, and at the opening another vesture is given to view; but this last is of very slight texture, the colour changing violet and white. The sleeves of the lower vestment are red and gold, with a sort of pendants falling over them from the robe above. She stretches the left hand towards Rome, who is opposite to her, as one who would say, “What wouldest thou?—I am ready to answer thee.^ In her right hand she brandishes a naked sword, in the manner of one infuriated. The buskins of this figure are azure, it is placed on a rock in the midst of the sea; and the surrounding air is very beautifully done. Rome is depicted as a young girl, beautiful as it is possible for man to imagine; the hair is wound round her head in tresses of infinite grace, and her vestments are wholly red, with a border of embroidery at the foot only; the reverse of the robe is yellow, and the under vestment seen at the opening is changing of purple and white. The buskins worn by this figure are green, a sceptre is borne in the right hand, and in the left is the globe. Rome also is placed on a rock in the midst of an air, which could not be more beautiful than it is. But although I have taken the utmost pains to set forth the art with which these figures have been executed by Attavante in the best manner I am able, yet let none suppose that I have said more than a very small part of what might be said of their beauty, seeing that, for works of the time, nothing in miniature could be seen better than these are, or displaying more invention, judgment, and knowledge of design, or executed with more diligence; the colours also are as beautiful as it is possible that they should be; nor could they