Tuesday 5 May 2009

The second Booke The third Chapter, Fol.26.

The Satiricall Scenes are to represent Satirs, wherein you must place all those things that be rude and rusticall, as in ancient Satirs they were made plaine without any respect, whereby men might understand, that such things were referred to Rusticall people, which set all things out rudely and plainely: for which cause Vitruvius speaking of Scenes, saith, they should be made with Trees, Rootes, Herbs, Hils and Flowres, and with?oute countrey houses, as you see them here set downe. And for that in our dayes things were made in Winter, when there were but few greene Traes, Herbs, and Flowres to be found; then you must make these things of Silke, which will be more commendable then the naturall things themselves: and as in other Scenes for Comedies or Tragedies, the houses or other artificiall things are painted, so you must make Trees, Hearbs, and other things in these; & the more such things cost, the more they are esteemed, for they are things which stately and great persons doe, which are enemies to nigardlinesse. This have I seen in some Scenes made by Ieronimo Genga, for the pleasure and delight of his lord and patron Francisco Maria, Duke of Urbin: wherein I saw so great liberalitie used by the Prince, and so good a conceit in the workeman, and so good Art and proportion in things therein represented, as ever I saw in all my life before. Oh good Lord, what magnificence was there to be saene, for the great number of Trees and Fruits, with sundry Herbes and Flowres, all made of fine Silke of divers collars. The water courses being adorned with Frogs, Snailes, Tortuses, Toads, Adders, Snakes, and other beasts: Rootes of Corrale, mother of Pearle and other shels layd and thrust through betweene the Stones, with so many severall and faire things, that if I should declare them all, I should not have time enough. I speake not of Satirs, Nimphes, Mermaids, divers monsters, and other strange beastes, made so cunningly, that they seemed in shew as if they went and stirred, according to their manner. And if I were not desirous to be briefe, I would also speake of the costly apparel of some Shepheards made of cloth of gold, and of Silke, cunningly mingled with Imbrothery: I would speake of some Countrey Mayds and Nimphes carelesly apparelled without pryde, but I leave all these things to the discretion and consideration of the judicious workeman; which shall make all such things as their patrons serve them, which they must worke after their owne devices, and never take care what it shall cost.

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