DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51584#0227
FRA BARTOLOMEO.
223
luxury of the nobles, the usurpation of the Medici,
and the vices of the popes, with a fearless fervour
and eloquence which his hearers and himself mis-
took for direct inspiration from heaven. The in-
fluence of this extraordinary man increased daily ;
and among his most devoted admirers and disciples
was Bartolomeo. In a fit of perplexity and re-
morse, caused by an eloquent sermon of Savonarola,
he joined with many others in making a sacrifice of
all the books and pictures which related to heathen
poetry and art on which they could lay their hands ;
into this funeral pyre, which was kindled in sight
of the people in one of the principal streets of
Florence, Bartolomeo flung all those of his designs,
drawings, and studies which represented either pro-
fane subjects or the human figure undraped, and he
almost wholly abandoned the practice of his art for
the society of his friend and spiritual pastor. But
the talents, the enthusiasm, the popularity of Sa-
vonarola had marked him for destruction. He was
excommunicated by the pope for heresy, denounced
by the Medici, and at length forsaken by the fickle
people who had followed, obeyed, almost adored
him as a saint. Bartolomeo happened to be lodged
in the convent of St. Mark when it was attacked by
the rabble and a party of nobles. The partisans of
Savonarola were massacred, and Savonarola him-
self carried off to torture and to death, Our pious
and excellent painter was not remarkable for
l 2
223
luxury of the nobles, the usurpation of the Medici,
and the vices of the popes, with a fearless fervour
and eloquence which his hearers and himself mis-
took for direct inspiration from heaven. The in-
fluence of this extraordinary man increased daily ;
and among his most devoted admirers and disciples
was Bartolomeo. In a fit of perplexity and re-
morse, caused by an eloquent sermon of Savonarola,
he joined with many others in making a sacrifice of
all the books and pictures which related to heathen
poetry and art on which they could lay their hands ;
into this funeral pyre, which was kindled in sight
of the people in one of the principal streets of
Florence, Bartolomeo flung all those of his designs,
drawings, and studies which represented either pro-
fane subjects or the human figure undraped, and he
almost wholly abandoned the practice of his art for
the society of his friend and spiritual pastor. But
the talents, the enthusiasm, the popularity of Sa-
vonarola had marked him for destruction. He was
excommunicated by the pope for heresy, denounced
by the Medici, and at length forsaken by the fickle
people who had followed, obeyed, almost adored
him as a saint. Bartolomeo happened to be lodged
in the convent of St. Mark when it was attacked by
the rabble and a party of nobles. The partisans of
Savonarola were massacred, and Savonarola him-
self carried off to torture and to death, Our pious
and excellent painter was not remarkable for
l 2