366

t

BACCIO BALDINI.

[chap. vi.

open field. Towards the left, appears an hermitage, surmounted
with a cross; and the hermit is seated at the door, near which is
a man cutting wood, and two other labourers with their tools: in
the fore-ground, to the right, is a prison, and before it, a man,
seated, with his legs and arms in the stocks, and two grotesque
figures are standing in the front: towards the left, are men killing
hogs, one of which is hanged upon a tree. The inscription at
bottom begins as follows :

satvrno . e pianeta . mascvlino . posto . nel setimo . cielo .
friddo . e secho . ma . accideitalmente . hvmido . di natvra .
di terra, &c.

VII. f Mercvrio—Mercury. He is represented in his chariot,
holding his caduceus, and drawn by two birds, like hawks : on the
wheels of his chariot, are two zodiacal signs, the Virgin and the Twins,
inscribed, virgo and gemini. We are here presented with the inside
of a city: in the back-ground, is a view of a street; and, in the front,
towards the right, a large building, which the workmen are deco-
rating with ornaments : below, appears the potter, with a variety of
small vessels; and, in the front, the sculptor, carving a head in
stone: above him are two philosophers, holding a celestial sphere,
and, near them, a table, covered with viands : in the building,
towards the left, we see a musician, playing upon an organ. It is
singular enough, that the bellows, by means of which the instru-
ment is supplied with wind, resembles the common bellows which
we have in our houses at this day: in a compartment below, are
two figures at a table, writing; and a third is regulating a clock.
The perspective, in which science the artist had here an opportunity
of shewing his abilities, is most dreadfully defective. The inscrip-
tion at the bottom begins in this manner:—

mercvrio . e pianeta . mascvlino . posto nel secondo . cielo .
et secho . ma perche . la sva . siccita . e molto . passiva lvi . e
fredo, &c