Santa Margherita escaping from the stomach of the dragon:[1] in this monster indeed, and in the fantastic deformity imparted to it, he has displayed a degree of invention which could not, I think, be surpassed; venom is darting from its eyes, fire and death are in its aspect, the creature is indeed most frightful;[2] nor do I believe that any master could produce more extraordinary etfects than Piero di Cosimo in that manner, or could indeed imagine any thing equal to them; of this we have proof in a marine monster, executed by Cosimo and which he presented to tte illustrious Giuliano de’ Medici: the deformity of this animal is something so extravagant, so fantastic, and so unearthly, that I cannot believe any thing so hideous and repulsive could possibly be found in nature. This monster is now in the Guardaroba of the Duke Cosimo de’ Medici, as is also a book, filled with animals of divers kinds, by the hand of Piero, some exceedingly singular, others remarkably beautiful, and all executed very carefully with the pen, being finished with inconceivable patience: this book was presented to the Duke;[3] by Messer Cosimo Bartoli, provost of San Giovanni, a most trustworthy friend of my own, and the well-wisher of all artists, being, as he is, one who has ever delighted, and still does delight, in these our noble arts.
Around a chamber, in the house of Francesco del Puliese, Piero painted historical events in a similar manner, the figures being small. In this work also the artist has exhibited a singular variety of those fantastic objects which he so greatly delighted in painting; the buildings, the animals, the vestments, the instruments, all are of the most fanciful and varied character, he depicted whatever came into his head in short, the whole representation being entirely fabulous. After the death of Francesco del Pugliese and his sons, these paintings were removed, nor do I know what became of them. A
- ↑ For the legend of this “Virgin Martyr”—
“Mild Margarete, that was God’s maid.
Maid Margarete, that was so meek and mild,”see Mrs. Jameson, Poetry of Sacred and Legendary Art, vol. ii. p. 130, et seg.; see also ante, p. '27
- ↑ The predella has long been lost.
- ↑ No authentic information can now be obtained, either of the monster or the book.
