Great Masters in Painting: Perugino Part 21

Above the first six figures are seated representations of Prudence and Justice, the virtues, ill.u.s.trated by the philosophers, and on tablets carried by cherubs the following two inscriptions:

QUID GENERI HVMANO PRaeSTAS DEA DIC AGE PRaeSTO NE FACIAS QVAE MOX FACTA DOLERE QUEAS SCRUTARI VERVM DOCEO CAUSASQVE LATENTES ET PER ME POTERIT NIL NISI RITE GERI.

SI TRIBVS HIS CVNCTOS SIMILES PIA NVMINA GIGNANT NIL TOTO SCELERIS NIL SIT IN ORBE MALI ME CVLTA AVGENTVR POPVLI BELLOQVE TOGAQVE ET SINE ME FVERANT QVAE MODO MAGNA RVVNT.

The Rev. H. R. Ware renders these verses in English as follows:

Thy gifts to man, Oh! G.o.ddess, now relate.

"To do, what done, shall bring no bitter fate; I show where truth lies hid, the causes tell, Which learned from me thou may'st do all things well."

or, as an alternative, the last line may read

(Whereby the seeker may do all things well.)

"If the good G.o.ds make all men like these three, In the wide world no wickedness would be.

By me the nations grow in war and peace, Without my wors.h.i.+p antient powers decrease."

Another rendering by the Rev. T. C. Robson is very close to the original but is not as melodious and easy as Mr. Ware's.

Speak, G.o.ddess, where thy gift to man appears.

"My gift to prompt to deeds that cause no tears.

Truth to unveil, secrets to learn I teach, No slave of mine heaven's justice would impeach.

Had heaven made all men like these three Evil and crime had ceased to be; I guide both sword and pen to better ways, Force without me will fall on evil days."

Above the second six figures are similar representations of Fort.i.tude and Temperance, the virtues specially ill.u.s.trated by the warriors and similar inscriptions thus:

CEDERE CVNTA MEIS PULSA ET DISIECTA LACERTIS MAGNA SATIS FVERINT TRES DOCVMENTA VIRI NIL EGO PRO PATRIA TIMEO CHARISQVE PROPINQVIS QVAEQVE ALIOS TERRET MORS MIHI GRATA VENIT.

DIC DEA QVAE TIBI VIS MORES REGO PECTORIS AESTVS TEMPERO ET HIS ALIOS CVM VOLO REDDO PARES ME SEQVERE ET QVA TE SVPERES RATIONE DOCEBO QVID TV QVOD VALEAS VINCERE MAIVS ERIT.

Mr. Ware's translation of these verses is very happy:

Three heroes proof infallible have given That by my arms all foes are backward driven, I have no fear for country nor for friends The king of terror brings to me amends.

G.o.ddess, reveal thy might. "I rule the life; Heroes I train by tempering pa.s.sion's strife: Follow my rule, thy fiery heart restrain, What greater victory canst thou ere attain."

An alternative of these four lines would be,

Oh! G.o.ddess, tell the secret of thy might.

"I rule the heart, its foaming tides I fight.

Follow my rule, the storms of pa.s.sion bind; So conquering self a greater self you'll find."

Mr. Robson's rendering is as follows:

All things beneath my hand in scattered ruin lie.

Witness these three whose might can none deny.

My land, my loved ones, ever I defend, And Death, to others Foe, to me is friend.

Speak, G.o.ddess, from thy throne. "Manners my right.

To cool men's souls and balance pa.s.sion's might.

With me as guide self-conquest thou shalt learn, Who then will dare that master will to spurn."

The name of each of the standing figures is clearly recorded at his feet.

Between these two great groups on a pilaster is the portrait of Perugino with this inscription: =PETRVS PERVSINVS EGREGIVS PICTOR.=

PERDITA SI FUERAT PINGENDI HIS RETULIT ARTEM; SI NUSQUAM INVENTA EST HACTENUS IPSE DEDIT.

On the end wall are representations of =The Transfiguration and Nativity.=

In the former Our Lord is in the clouds in a mandorla of rays, and His hands are raised in benediction. On either side kneel Moses and Elias, and in the sky are the words: =HIC EST FILIVS MEVS DILECTVS.= On the ground gazing up, but shading their faces from the glory, are the three disciples.

In the "Nativity" the divine Child is on the ground, and around, under a canopy raised on six columns, are kneeling the Madonna, St.

Joseph, and the shepherds. There are cattle nearby, and above, in the heavens, three angels singing, and above their heads the words: =GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO.=

On the right wall is a =Group of Prophets and Sibyls=, Isaiah, Moses, Daniel, David, and Jeremiah, and opposite to them the Persian, c.u.maean, Libyan, Tyburtine, and Delphic sibyls. Above them, in the clouds, surrounded by cherubs and adoring angels, is a representation of =The Eternal Father=.

Near the door is a fine standing figure of =Cato=, and in the ceiling are medallions of the deities representing the seven planets set amidst a profusion of diversified arabesques.

There are studies in the Uffizi for several of the figures in the Cambio: Socrates (251, 415), Pericles (252, 400), "Moses" (252, 401), "The c.u.mean Sibyl" (256, 309), "Venus and Cupid" (253, 402), "The Infant Christ" (_verso_ of, 252, 401).

ROME, VATICAN, CAPPELLA SISTINA.

=St. Peter receiving the Keys.=

There is a study in the Uffizi, 252, 416, for one of the heads in this fresco.

ROME, VATICAN, STANZA DELL' INCENDIO.

The =CEILING= painted by Perugino was spared by Raphael in 1508 when Pope Julius II. ordered the destruction of all existing work in order that Raphael might entirely complete the decoration. The ceiling is in four circular compartments.

The first represents, within a mandorla of cherubs, and surrounded with angels the Eternal Father holding the globe and giving benediction.

The second, the Saviour in glory, within a mandorla, and surrounded with angels and cherubs.

The third, the Saviour surrounded by His apostles and St. Paul, while above Him is the Eternal Father with angels, and at His feet the Dove of the Holy Ghost.

The fourth depicts the Eternal Father between two saints and surrounded by angels and cherubs.

ROME, VATICAN, PINACOTECA.

=The Resurrection.= Panel. 227 167 = 7 ft. 6 in. 5 ft. 6 in.

=The Madonna and Child.= 089 165 = 2 ft. 11 in. 5 ft. 6 in.

The Virgin is seated on a magnificent canopied throne beneath a vaulted archway. The divine Child is nude, and stands erect on her knees. Around are four saints patrons of Perugia, St. Hercula.n.u.s, St. Constantius, St. Lawrence, and St. Louis of Toulouse, all richly dressed.