DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.71556#0098
64
LIFE OF MICHAEL ANGELO.
he had imbibed the Platonic doctrines; and that he
frequented the meetings in the Rucellai gardens,
may be inferred from a picture in the Casa Buonar-
roti, which represents him in a philosophic attitude,
addressing a group of young men; the locality being
indicated by a sylvan background, amidst which
rises a colossal statue, the original of which still
adorns the Oricellari gardens.*
In addition to the ordinary meetings of the Aca-
demy, the ancient custom, prevalent as late as the
time of Longinus, of commemorating with peculiar
honours the birthday of Plato, was also introduced
at Florence. The heads of the Medici family, on
various occasions, distinguished this day by sump-
tuous banquets, at which the forms of the ancient
symposia were imitated.f A profusion of wax-
lights graced these assemblages, and speeches and
addresses were delivered, specimens of which are
to be found in the works of Ficino, who makes par-
ticular mention of a festival of this kind, of almost
regal magnificence, given by Francesco Bandini,
one of the Academicians.
Ficino, both from natural shyness and from his
studious tastes, delighted in retirement; his habits
were simple and ascetic; but his absence of mind
rendered him so careless and disregardful of the
ordinary duties of domestic life, that his nephews
* My attention was drawn to this picture, which is in chiaro-
'scuro, by the Cavaliere Buonarroti.
f Schelhorn, Amoen. Lit., vol. i. p. 87.
LIFE OF MICHAEL ANGELO.
he had imbibed the Platonic doctrines; and that he
frequented the meetings in the Rucellai gardens,
may be inferred from a picture in the Casa Buonar-
roti, which represents him in a philosophic attitude,
addressing a group of young men; the locality being
indicated by a sylvan background, amidst which
rises a colossal statue, the original of which still
adorns the Oricellari gardens.*
In addition to the ordinary meetings of the Aca-
demy, the ancient custom, prevalent as late as the
time of Longinus, of commemorating with peculiar
honours the birthday of Plato, was also introduced
at Florence. The heads of the Medici family, on
various occasions, distinguished this day by sump-
tuous banquets, at which the forms of the ancient
symposia were imitated.f A profusion of wax-
lights graced these assemblages, and speeches and
addresses were delivered, specimens of which are
to be found in the works of Ficino, who makes par-
ticular mention of a festival of this kind, of almost
regal magnificence, given by Francesco Bandini,
one of the Academicians.
Ficino, both from natural shyness and from his
studious tastes, delighted in retirement; his habits
were simple and ascetic; but his absence of mind
rendered him so careless and disregardful of the
ordinary duties of domestic life, that his nephews
* My attention was drawn to this picture, which is in chiaro-
'scuro, by the Cavaliere Buonarroti.
f Schelhorn, Amoen. Lit., vol. i. p. 87.