Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/530

522 refuse to appear at the nuptial invitation of the King, and of him who went to the feast not having on a wedding garment: this work is in six plates, and in six others of equal size the master engraved certain subjects from the Acts of the Apostles. Furthermore, and in eight engravings of like character, Jeronimo delineated eight female figures of the most perfect excellence; six from the Old Testament, namely, Joel, Ruth, Abigail, Judith, Esther, and Susannah, and two from the New; Mary the Virgin, the mother of Our Saviour Christ, and Mary Magdalene. By the same artist was engraved the Triumphs of Patience, in six plates, with fantasies of various kinds: in the first plate is the figure of Patience borne on a car, and holding a standard in her hand on which there is a rose amidst thorns; on the next is a Burning Heart laid on an Anvil, and receiving blows from three hammers; the chariot in this second plate being drawn by two figures, by Desire who has wings at his shoulders namely, and by Hope, who holds an anchor in her hand: behind them they lead Fortune prisoner, with her wheel broken; the third plate shows Christ on a Chariot, bearing the Standard of the Cross, the ensign of his Passion, in his hand: in the angles are the Four Evangelists in the forms of animals; the chariot in this plate is drawn by two Lambs, and has four prisoners behind it, the Devil, the World, Sin, and Death.

In the fourth plate of this series is a nude figure of Isaac seated on a Camel; on the banner in his hand is a pair of prison chains, and behind him he draws the altar, with the ram, the knife, and the fire. Another plate shows Joseph Riding in Triumph on an Ox, which is crowned with fruits and ears of corn: the patriarch holds a standard, whereon there is a bee-hive, and leads prisoners Zephira and Envy, who are devouring a Heart. In one of these Triumphs the master has exhibited King David on a Lion, with the Harp on his arm, and a Banner in his hand, whereon there is a bridle; behind him is Saul as a prisoner, with Shimmei, whose tongue is hanging from his mouth: another shows Tobias riding in Triumph on an Ass; the Standard he bears in his hand exhibits a fountain, and the prisoners whom he brings after him are Poverty and Blindness. The last of