Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/120

108 Agnolo to construct a similar fountain on the Strand near the side of their Custom-Chouse: this also proved to he a very magnificent and beautiful production. It has eight sides like the first, but is nevertheless entirely different from the above described erection. The steps, for example, are divided into four ranges, the three which ascend the larger facets having rectangular fronts, and those on the smaller sides of the fabric presenting a semicircular form: above these flights of steps stands the fountain with its eight sides. The balustrade of the larger and lowermost basin, also exhibiting an octangular figure, has a richly sculptured pedestal at each of its angles, and in the centre of four out of the eight faces or planes is another pedestal of similar character. On the sides to which you mount by the circular steps there is a marble vase or basin of an oval shape into which there falls water in vast abundance from two masks, which are fixed on the basement of the carved balustrade. In the centre of the principal vase of this fountain is a pedestal, of proportions justly adapted thereto, and on this pedestal are exhibited the Arms of Charles V., with a Sea-horse at each angle of the basement, from between the feet of which spring jets of water; in the frieze of the same, beneath the upper cornice that is to say, are eight large masks, which pour streams of water downwards. On the summit is a figure of Neptune, five braccia high; the sea-god holds his trident in his hand, and beside him is a Dolphin.

On the two sides of the great basin are two other pedestals, on which are Scylla and Charybdis, in the forms of two monsters, with heads of Dogs, and surrounded by Furies, the whole extremely well done, and this work also, when brought to completion, gave entire satisfaction to the Messinese, who, having found a man to their mind, had no sooner beheld their fountains completed, than they determined to commence the façade of their Cathedral, which they also carried forward to a considerable height. They