Part 6 (1/2)

[Footnote 27: E H Blashfield in _Italian Cities_]

Our illustration shows a portion of the octagonal cornice The design is a simulated balcony ornarouped in twos at the corners On the top of the balustrade, in the spaces between the candelabra, sport a band of genii, or heavenly spirits

The four apostles are iant frames with broad shoulders and stalwart lie, heavily bearded, and all look much alike It would be impossible to call one Peter, and another Paul, or to identify any particular persons Evidently it was not the intention of the artist to distinguish individuals All the figures are turned with lifted faces towards the vision in the doesture, the wonder, joy, rapture, or admiration aroused by the spectacle Their attitudes are soant and self-conscious The drapery, too, is rather fantastic, flung about their figures, leaving ars bare Were the picture taken out of its surroundings it would scarcely suggest a Christian subject

These colossal beings are like titansthe mystic incantations of some heathen rite

[Illustration: APOSTLES AND GENII _Cathedral, Parma_]

But we must not press our interpretation too far The panel should be studied for its decorative quality as a part of a larger scheures onal, flowing in the direction of the focal point of the whole decoration

The genii of the balustrade are beings of Correggio's own creation

His iination called forth a world of spirits without a counterpart in the work of any other painter Lacking the wings usually given in art to angels, they also lack the proper air of sanctity for heavenly habitants Yet they are far too ethereal for el nor hu hair and agile motions they remind us of woodland creatures, and they look shyly out of their eyes like the furtive folk of the forest

They are sportive, but not ht of e they are between childhood and youth, when li and bodies supple Their only draperies are narrow scarfs which they twist about theures seen in our illustration, two only have any ostensible purpose to serve One see a candelabrum with a flambeau; another carries a bohich may be used for incense

The others are idlers If they have any duties as acolytes, these are for the otten Several are attracted by the cereh perch upon the worshi+pping congregation

The sprite at the extreht is seated, and peeps over his shoulder with a rather dreaether, one throwing up his left arm as if to balance himself

Beyond the candelabruive a feure The sprite in the centre of the balustrade is the ht eyes have spied out so, he points directly at the person His expression is very roguish The little felloith the flambeau is at the left, and last is one whose face is turned away towards the iinary space behind the balcony

Our illustration gives us a general idea of Correggio's decorative method The huures, posed in every possible attitude Every figure is in motion, and the whole

XII

ST JOHN THE BAPTIST

In one of the pendentives of the cupola in the Parure of St John the Baptist reproduced in our illustration The background is made to resemble somewhat the interior of a shell On billows of clouds sits the prophet, with a la about him

St John the Baptist was a cousin of Jesus, and the first to recognize the true character of the carpenter's son While Jesus was still living in obscurity in Nazareth, John went forth to preach in the wilderness about the river Jordan His ular He ”had his raiirdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey”[28]

[Footnote 28: St Matthew, chapter iii, verse 4]

The preacher was stern in denouncing sin and in warning evil-doers of the wrath to codom of heaven is at hand” When the people asked hiht to do, his ansere full of common sense ”He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none; and he that hath meat, let him do likewise” To the tax-collectors, he said, ”Exact no more than that which is appointed you;” to the soldiers, ”Do violence to no man, neither accuse any falsely”[29]

[Footnote 29: St Luke, chapter iii]

The authorities sent froe preacher; but his reply was in the words of the old Hebrew prophet, ”I a in the wilderness”[30]

[Footnote 30: St John, chapter i, verse 23]