. Men and manners of old Florence. mising sight to the curious,quartered bullocks, casks of Greek wine, and as manycapons as could hang on a staff, borne on the shouldersof two stout peasants ; bars of buffalo-cheese, turkeysin pairs, barrels of ordinary wine and choice sweetwine, baskets full of pomegranates, hampers of largesea-fish, crates of little silver-scaled fish from theArno, birds, hares, cream-cheeses packed in freshgreen rushes, baskets full of sweetmeats, tarts, andother delicate confectionery, prepared by the fairhands of some gentle nun. There advanced slowly,shaking its leafy h
. Men and manners of old Florence. mising sight to the curious,quartered bullocks, casks of Greek wine, and as manycapons as could hang on a staff, borne on the shouldersof two stout peasants ; bars of buffalo-cheese, turkeysin pairs, barrels of ordinary wine and choice sweetwine, baskets full of pomegranates, hampers of largesea-fish, crates of little silver-scaled fish from theArno, birds, hares, cream-cheeses packed in freshgreen rushes, baskets full of sweetmeats, tarts, andother delicate confectionery, prepared by the fairhands of some gentle nun. There advanced slowly,shaking its leafy head as it stood on the cart,drawn by panting oxen, a splendid olive-tree fromCarmignano, as well as young oaks procured fromthe Villa at Sesto, not to mention the flowers thatglad season gave in such profusion. The presents,worthy of those who sent them, enhanced the magni-ficence of the feast, testifying to the love and reverencethe donors bore towards the two illustrious familiesabout to be allied by these nuptials. Thus by this. Plioh] [Atimn. THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IN THE RUCELLAI CHAPEL, SAN PANCRAZIO. [To face pct^c 129. PRIVATE LIFE OF THE FLORENTINES 129 marriage old Giovanni Rucellai did away with allsuspicion of being an enemy to the Medici faction,which had grown stronger in Florence since the exileof Cosimo. It was a connection planned with muchjudgment, and which brought as much honour tohis family as did the facade of Santa Maria Novella,which he caused Alberti to build, the chapel of SanPancrazio, the Palace, and the beautiful Corinthianloggia in Via della Vigna. That majestic old man,with high, open forehead, acquiline nose, and piercingblue eyes, that still look out at us from an old portrait,had a subtle wit. His thick black hair falls in closecurls on to his shoulders ; a long wavy beard restson his breast, preserving a fcvr gold threads mixedwith the grey of years ; his fresh colouring denotesa vigorous old age. We see him seated in a largearmchair, covered with
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Keywords: ., bo, bookauthorbiagiguido18551925, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1900
