lofty words; and behind him he has two
boys who hold his books. Next to him follows a Sibyl, who is doing the
contrary to the Erythraean Sibyl that we described above, for, holding
her book away from her, she seeks to turn a page, while with one knee
over the other she sits sunk within herself, pondering gravely over
what she is to write; and then a boy who is behind her, blowing on a
burning brand, lights her lamp. This figure is of extraordinary beauty
in the expression of the face, in the head-dress, and in the
arrangement of the draperies; besides which she has the arms nude,
which are equal to the other parts. Beyond this Sibyl he painted the
Prophet Joel, who, sunk within himself, has taken a scroll and reads
it with great attention and appreciation: and from his aspect it is so
clearly evident that he is satisfied with that which he finds written
there, that he looks like a living person who has applied his thoughts
intently to some matter. Over the door of the chapel, likewise, he
placed the aged Zaccharias, who, seeking through his written book for
something that he cannot find, stands with one leg on high and the
other low; and, while the ardour of the search after something that he
cannot find causes him to stand thus, he takes no notice of the
discomfort that he suffers in such a posture. This figure is very
beautiful in its aspect of old age, and somewhat full in form, and has
draperies with few folds, which are most beautiful. In addition, there
is another Sibyl, who is next in the direction of the altar on the
other side, displaying certain writings, and, with her boys in
attendance, is no less worthy of praise than are the others. Beyond
her is the Prophet Isaiah, who, wholly absorbed in his own thoughts,
has the legs crossed over one another, and, holding one hand in his
book to mark the place where he was reading, has placed the elbow of
the other arm upon the book, with the cheek pressed against the hand;
and, being called by one of the boys that he has behind him, he turns
only the head, without disturbing himself otherwise. Whoever shall
consider his countenance, shall see touches truly taken from Nature
herself, the true mother of art, and a figure which, when well studied
in every part, can teach in liberal measure all the precepts of the
good painter. Beyond this Prophet is an aged Sibyl of great beauty,
who, as she sits, studies from a book in an attitude of extraordinary
grace, not to speak of