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Chap. VII. PIETRO PERUGINO. 211 Triumph of Religion, as well as in the Cardinal Virtues, the simplest known arrangement is that adopted by Peru- gino. The Eternal is attended by two angels, and gives his blessing. He presides, as it were, over the groups beneath him. The prophets headed by Solomon, the sybils by the Erythrean, occupy the foreground. Isaiah, Moses, Daniel, David, and Jeremiah, the Persian, Cuman, Lybian, Tiburtine, and Delphic prophetesses, are in converse, and each hold a scroll with a motto. They are all graceful apparitions in the well considered and affectedly elegant motions that Perugino sought in every instance to real ize, but tine in proportion, and individually grand. The Virtues are likewise seated on clouds, and bear their appropriate emblems, whilst their embodiment is illustrated in a long line of heroes; in Fabius Maxi mus, Socrates, and Numa, the prudent; in Furius Ca- millus, Pittacus, and Trajan, celebrated for their jus tice; in Lucius Sicinius, Leonidas, and Codes, men of undaunted fortitude; in Scipio, Pericles, and Cincinnatus, the glorious representatives of temperance. The same calm resignation and gentle action marks them all irrespective of difference of race, of time, and of character. In Sici nius alone, Perugino repeats the movement given to S. George or S. Michael in many of his sacred pieces; and imitates with more than usual power the typical pose of Donatello’s statue. He bears in mind the examples left by Ghirlandaio in the Palazzo Pubblico at Florence, and though he cannot rival the high mien, the noble stature, or the dignified expression of that master’s classic champions the memory of them gives strength to his less masculine concep tions of them. In the Virtues he remembers other Flor entines, and his Fortitude is derived from that of Botti celli. In the execution, he is prodigal of all the qualities that he possesses. His style expands to its breadth. The forms are remarkably firm, perfect, and well chosen. The proportions are most con’ect, and the attitudes are as na tural as their forced grace will allow. The cast of his 14*