Identifier: correggiocollect00hurl (find matches)
Title: Correggio : a collection of fifteen pictures and a supposed portrait of the painter
Year: 1901 (1900s)
Authors: Hurll, Estelle M. (Estelle May), 1863-1924 Correggio, 1489?-1534
Subjects: Correggio, 1489?-1534
Publisher: Boston New York : Houghton, Mifflin
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

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Text Appearing Before Image:
, in the spaces between thecandelabra, sport a band of genii, or heavenlyspirits. The four apostles are men of giant frames withbroad shoulders and stalwart limbs. They are ofmiddle age, heavily bearded, and all look muchalike. It would be impossible to call one Peter, andanother Paul, or to identify any particular persons.Evidently it was not the intention of the artist todistinguish individuals. All the figures are turnedwith lifted faces towards the vision in the dome.Each expresses, by a gesture, the wonder, joy, rapt-ure, or admiration aroused by the spectacle. Theirattitudes are somewhat extravagant and self-con-scious. The drapery, too, is rather fantastic, flungabout their figures, leaving arms and legs bare.Were the picture taken out of its surroundings itwould scarcely suggest a Christian subject. Thesecolossal beings are like Titans moving through thefigures of a sacred dance, and murmuring the mys-tic incantations of some heathen rite. 1 E. H. Blashfield in Italian Cities.
Text Appearing After Image:
APOSTLES AND GENII 65 But we must not press our interpretation too far.The panel should be studied for its decorative qual-ity as a part of a larger scheme. Viewed from be-low, this procession of figures must be exceedinglyeffective. The emphasis of lines is diagonal, flow-ing in the direction of the focal point of the wholedecoration. The genii of the balustrade are beings of Correg-gios own creation. His imagination called forth aworld of spirits without a counterpart in the workof any other painter. Lacking the wings usuallygiven in art to angels, they also lack the proper airof sanctity for heavenly habitants. Yet they arefar too ethereal for mortals. Neither angel norhuman, they are rather sprites of elf-land. Withtheir tossing hair and agile motions they remindus of woodland creatures, and they look shyly outof their eyes like the furtive folk of the forest. They are sportive, but not mischievous, in thehuman sense. They frolic in the pure delight ofmotion. By mortal standards o

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