DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.786#0112
96 FIRENZE. [chap, xxxvii.
a torch. Here a husband is taking leave of his wife, ere
he mounts the steed which is to convey him to the land
whence no traveller returns—or a like fond pair are
pressing hands for the last time at a column, the funeral
pine-cone on which indicates the nature of their farewell.
There, the winged messenger of Hades enters the chamber,
and waves her torch over the head of the dying one,—or
two sons are performing the last sad rites to their father ;
one is piously closing his eyes, and the other stands by
comforted by a good spirit, while the Genius of Death
is also present, sword in hand, to indicate the triumph he
has just achieved.5
The subjects are sometimes mythological. Winged
hippocampi, or sea-monsters—Scylla with double fishes tail,
in the midst of a shoal of merry dolphins6—Castor and
Pollux resting on their shields, with a winged Fate seated
between them—griffons, and other chimeras, or winged
Genii guarding the urn which contains the ashes of the
dead.
Here Paris has taken refuge at an altar, to escape from
his brethren, who are enraged at his carrying off the palm
from them in the public games. His good Genius steps in
to save the victorious shepherd. There the young Polites
is slain by Pyrrhus; the altar to which he had fled,
and the wheel of Fortune on which he relied availing
him nothing. Here is the boar of Calydon at bay, fall-
ing beneath the lance and double-axe (bipennis) of his
pursuers. There Ulysses in his galley is struggling to free
himself from his voluntary bondage, eager to yield to the
allurements of " the Syrens three," who, in the guise
5 This scene is illustrated by Micali, anchor in each hand—the decoration of
Ant. Pop. Ital. tar. LIX. 4. an urn in this collection—is illustrated
6 One of these marine goddesses, with by Micali, Italia avanti I Romani, tav.
a pair of wings on her brows, and an XXII.; Ant. Pop. Ital. tar. CX.
a torch. Here a husband is taking leave of his wife, ere
he mounts the steed which is to convey him to the land
whence no traveller returns—or a like fond pair are
pressing hands for the last time at a column, the funeral
pine-cone on which indicates the nature of their farewell.
There, the winged messenger of Hades enters the chamber,
and waves her torch over the head of the dying one,—or
two sons are performing the last sad rites to their father ;
one is piously closing his eyes, and the other stands by
comforted by a good spirit, while the Genius of Death
is also present, sword in hand, to indicate the triumph he
has just achieved.5
The subjects are sometimes mythological. Winged
hippocampi, or sea-monsters—Scylla with double fishes tail,
in the midst of a shoal of merry dolphins6—Castor and
Pollux resting on their shields, with a winged Fate seated
between them—griffons, and other chimeras, or winged
Genii guarding the urn which contains the ashes of the
dead.
Here Paris has taken refuge at an altar, to escape from
his brethren, who are enraged at his carrying off the palm
from them in the public games. His good Genius steps in
to save the victorious shepherd. There the young Polites
is slain by Pyrrhus; the altar to which he had fled,
and the wheel of Fortune on which he relied availing
him nothing. Here is the boar of Calydon at bay, fall-
ing beneath the lance and double-axe (bipennis) of his
pursuers. There Ulysses in his galley is struggling to free
himself from his voluntary bondage, eager to yield to the
allurements of " the Syrens three," who, in the guise
5 This scene is illustrated by Micali, anchor in each hand—the decoration of
Ant. Pop. Ital. tar. LIX. 4. an urn in this collection—is illustrated
6 One of these marine goddesses, with by Micali, Italia avanti I Romani, tav.
a pair of wings on her brows, and an XXII.; Ant. Pop. Ital. tar. CX.