and labour: these figures bear a kind of tazza or shallow vase in their hands, and within these vases are chandeliers holding lights; they are very beautiful, and in the last indeed Domenico acquitted himself so well that he obtained the highest commendation.[1]
Gaining courage from success, our artist then commenced figures oi the twelve Apostles, which were to be placed on the succeeding columns, those below the above-described that is to say, whereon they were to replace certain old figures in marble in a very bad manner, which now occupy the columns; but this work Domenico did not continue, since he ceased to live no very long time after having commenced it. Being a man of much ingenuity, this master succeeded in almost all that he undertook, and engraved wood-cuts from which to take impressions in chiaro-scuro; specimens of these, comprising the figures of two apostles, have been published and are admirably beautiful;[2] we have one of them in our book of designs, with other works by the hand of Domenico, all of which are drawn divinely. He engraved on copper with the burin in like manner, and executed certain stories with aqiia-fortis,[3] exhibiting studies in alchemy, which are very fanciful, the subject being Jupiter and the other gods, seeking to fix Mercury. To this intent they lay the god Mercury himself fast-bound within a crucible, while Vulcan and Pluto heap fire around him; but when they imagine that he is about to become a solid body, behold he flies off and is dissipated in smoke.
Domenico executed many other works in addition to those above-cited, such as figures of the Virgin and other cabinet pictures; none of these were of an}'- great importance, but among them we may specify a Madonna, which is now in the possession of the Cavalier Donati, with a painting in tempera, representing Jupiter changed into a shower of gold and falling upon the lap of Danae. There is also a round picture in oil by the same master, representing the Virgin
- ↑ These were cast in 1551, and are still in existence. The number of these figures is eight.
- ↑ Bottari affirms himself to have seen six of these figures, and thinks it probable that Mecherino may have carved the whole twelve in wood.
- ↑ The works are not etched, but engraved on wood. —Bottari. See also Zani, Enciclopedia Metodica; but his opinion, so far as it regards Domenico Beccafumi, is considered erroneous by the best authorities.
