Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/146

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Around the high altar in the same cathedral, Domenico also executed a decoration in the manner of a frieze; and to follow the order already commenced by Duccio, he delineated stories from Genesis; Adam and Eve that is to say, who, being driven from Paradise, are tilling the earth for their bread; with the Sacrifice of Abel and that1 of Melchizedech. Before the altar he placed a large picture representing Abraham on the point of sacrificing his son Isaac, and around this work is a bordering or decoration of half-length figures, bearing various animals which they appear about to present in sacrifice. Descending the steps, another large picture is found, of character similar to that above-named, but the subject of which is Moses on Mount Sinai receiving the laws from the hands of the Almighty; and beneath this is the law-giver, who, finding the people engaged in the adoration of the Golden Calf, is seized with anger, and casting down the tables on which the law was engraved, has broken them to pieces.

Beneath this story and opposite to the pulpit, there is a frieze with a vast number of figures, and this passes entirely across the church; the work is composed with so much grace and exhibits such beauty of design, that words could not do justice to its excellence. The subject of the picture is Moses in the Wilderness, who, striking the rock with his rod, and causing the water to gush forth, gives drink to his thirsty people. Here Domenico has shown the water, flowing as a river throughout the whole length of the frieze, and from this the people are drinking in attitudes which are varied to infinity, exhibiting a vivacity and animation so pleasing and so lifelike that no figures could possibly display more graceful, more beautiful, or more elegant movements than we find in this story. One has cast himself prone to the earth and drinks in that position, another kneels before the rock whence the water flows and drinks from the source, many are drawing the water in vases and vessels of various kinds, and some drink with the hand, while many others are leading their cattle to drink, to the great joy of the assembled people.