Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/24

16 that had been done in paintings of that description up to his owntime.

Above the painting by Raphael, here described, was a work by Giovanni Antonio Sodoma, of Vercelli, and which ought to have been destroyed in obedience to the commands of the Pope, but Raphael nevertheless determined to retain the compartments as he found them, and to use the arabesques which Giovanni Antonio had employed as decorations; there were besides four circular divisions, and in each of these Raphael depicted a figure, having relation to the picture which was immediately beneath it. In the first of these circular compartments, which is above the picture wherein the painter has delineated Philosophy, Astrology, Geometry, and Poetry, forming a union with Theology, is a female figure representing Knowledge: on each side of this figure, which is seated, is a statue of the goddess Cybele, with the form of breast usually attributed by the ancients to Diana Polymastes; the vestments are of four colours, to indicate the four elements; from the head downwards they are flame colour, to intimate fire; beneath the girdle is the colour of the air; from the lap to the knees is that of earth; and the remainder to the feet has the colour of water; these figures are accompanied by very beautiful boys.

In another circle, that turned towards the window which looks upon the Belvedere, is depicted Poetry, represented under the form of Polyhymnia; she is crowned with laurel, in one hand she holds the antique lyre, and has a book in the other, the limbs are crossed, and the face, which is of superhuman beauty, is turned upwards with the eyes raised to heaven. This figure also is accompanied by two boys, who are full of life and spirit; these children assist to form with