DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51584#0073
GIOTTO.
69
abounding in ideas then new in pictorial art. On
the right is a festive company of ladies and cavaliers,
who by their falcons and dogs appear to be returned
from the chase. They are seated under orange-
trees, and splendidly attired; rich carpets are
spread at their feet. A troubadour and singing-
girl amuse them with flattering songs; Cupids
flutter around them and wave their torches. All
the pleasures of sense and joys of earth are here
united. On the left Death approaches with rapid
flight—a fearful-looking woman with wild stream-
ing hair, claws instead of nails, large bats’ wings,
and indestructible wire-woven drapery. She swings
a scythe in her hand, and is on the point of mowing
down the joys of the company. (This female im-
personation of Death is supposed to be borrowed
from Petrarch, whose ‘ Trionfo della Morte ’ was
written about this time.) A host of corpses closely
pressed together lie at her feet; by their insignia
they are almost all to be recognised as the former
rulers of the world, kings, queens, cardinals, bishops,
princes, warriors, &c. Their souls rise out of them
in the form of new-born infants; angels and de-
mons are ready to receive them : the souls of the
pious fold their hands in prayer; those of the con-
demned shrink back in horror. The angels are
peculiarly yet happily conceived, with bird-like
forms and variegated plumage ; the devils have the
semblance of beasts of prey or of disgusting rep-
69
abounding in ideas then new in pictorial art. On
the right is a festive company of ladies and cavaliers,
who by their falcons and dogs appear to be returned
from the chase. They are seated under orange-
trees, and splendidly attired; rich carpets are
spread at their feet. A troubadour and singing-
girl amuse them with flattering songs; Cupids
flutter around them and wave their torches. All
the pleasures of sense and joys of earth are here
united. On the left Death approaches with rapid
flight—a fearful-looking woman with wild stream-
ing hair, claws instead of nails, large bats’ wings,
and indestructible wire-woven drapery. She swings
a scythe in her hand, and is on the point of mowing
down the joys of the company. (This female im-
personation of Death is supposed to be borrowed
from Petrarch, whose ‘ Trionfo della Morte ’ was
written about this time.) A host of corpses closely
pressed together lie at her feet; by their insignia
they are almost all to be recognised as the former
rulers of the world, kings, queens, cardinals, bishops,
princes, warriors, &c. Their souls rise out of them
in the form of new-born infants; angels and de-
mons are ready to receive them : the souls of the
pious fold their hands in prayer; those of the con-
demned shrink back in horror. The angels are
peculiarly yet happily conceived, with bird-like
forms and variegated plumage ; the devils have the
semblance of beasts of prey or of disgusting rep-