Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/52

44 heavens are filled. Bacchus and Silenus, with the Satyrs and Nymphs, betray the utmost horror and anxiety; Yulcan with his ponderous hammer on his shoulder is turning his looks towards Hercules, who is speaking with Mercury of the passing event: near these is Pomona with a terror-struck aspect, a similar appearance is presented by Vertumnus and the other gods, who are dispersed over heaven. But whether in those who fly or those who stay, all the effects of fear are rendered with so much force, that it is not possible, I do not say to see, but to imagine, a more admirable composition in painting than this is.

In the lower part, on the walls that is to say, are the Giants, some of whom, those namely who are nearest to Jupiter, have mountains and enormous rocks on their backs, these they support on their powerful shoulders, proposing to make a pile wherewith to scale the heavens, where their ruin is preparing, where Jupiter is thundering, where all the denizens of heaven are kindled with anger against them, and where the whole assembly appears not only to have a sense of terror at the rash presumption of those giants on whom it is casting mountains, but as if apprehensive that the whole world was in uproar and coming to an end. In this lower part of the painting, Giulio has also depicted Briareus in a dark cavern almost covered with enormous masses of rock, with other giants lying crushed and some dead beneath the ruins of the mountains. Through the cleft of another dark cave in the distance, moreover, and which is managed with infinite judgment, there are seen other giants in full flight, struck by the thunderbolts of Jove, they seem also on the point of being crushed, as are the others, beneath the ruins of the mountains. In another part of the picture also, are still more giants, on whom are falling temples, columns, and other fragments of buildings, making an immense slaughter and destruction of those proud assailants of the gods. It is amidst these falling ruins that the fire-place of the apartment is placed, and when fire is lighted therein the giants are seen as if burning amidst the flames. Here the master has depicted Pluto in his chariot; drawn by meagre bare-boned horses, and, accompanied by the Furies, he is