Duccio di Buoninsegna

“ Plotters of other men’s wrongs were ever inconsistent! One would have thought that Ferdinando would have hailed the removal of the only legitimate heir, before himself, to the Grand Duchy, but the delirium of jealousy and the fury of animosity in the Cardinal’s evil heart, found a sort of culmination two years later. Bianca’s daughter, Pellegrina, the only offspring of Pietro Buonaventuri, gave birth to a child. She had married, shortly after the public nuptials of the Grand Duke and Grand Duchess, Count Ulisse Bentivoglio di Magiola of Bologna—a by no means happy marriage as it turned out. ”

“ It will be better to speak more fully of his work when we stand before his masterpiece in the Opera del Duomo, that picture which, in Ghiberti’s words, “was made right excellently and learnedly, and is a magnificent thing.” Bringing the Byzantine manner to its utmost perfection for the purpose of religious illustration, Duccio gave imperishable form to what had been more or less traditional through the previous centuries of Christian art. He is to the Middle Ages what Raphael was to be to the Renaissance. ”

“ But Graziosa rose at his touch, and snatching her hand away, fled from the room, with one wild look toward Visconti.
"Ye see, my lord, she is bewildered, she can scarce believe it true——"
"It matter not for now," said Visconti. "Thy daughter loves me, painter, and none the less, I doubt not, that I am Duke of Milan; and she shall be my duchess, as I have vowed."
"Truly, the honor is more, I think, than she can bear," and Agnolo bowed to the ground.
"I have won a wife for myself—a wife who loves me for myself alone."
"Ah, she loves thee for what thou art not," cried Valentine aloud. ”

“ When Duccio ultimately died, what relations, disciples, or property he left, are circumstances alike unknown, but the fact that he bequeathed the invention of “chiaro-scuro” pictures in marble, as a legacy to the art of painting, would of itself be sufficient to secure him infinite praise and glory; he must assuredly be numbered among those benefactors who have adorned our art and promoted its progress ”

“ No more perfect illustration of these sacred histories, from the point of view of mediaeval tradition, has ever been painted. Duccio anticipates Raphael, in that side of his achievement in which the great master of Urbino, by the illustration that (with his followers) he supplied to religious history and legend, “has given an Hellenic garb to the Hebraic universe.” [98] But he is almost untouched by the new spirit that was manifesting itself in Giotto’s panels and frescoes. ”

“ She would live to be free; to come and go outside the Visconti palace, outside Milan, out yonder in the world. She leaned back against the arras a moment, dizzy at the thought of so much joy, and her courage rose high, her eyes danced.
"The Duke must have this parchment," she said; "and since Alberic da Salluzzo does not care to seek an audience for it, why, Tisio, thou shalt see me give it. The Duke loves not an interruption when he is angry," she added, with a soft laugh. ”

“ At thy sister's wedding thou wert proud that Mastino della Scala stooped to pat thee on the head. The Duke of Verona was once as much greater than are we, Vincenzo, than we are higher than a footman. It goes not with nobility nor with honor to slight the fallen. ”

“ The whole city was in tumult, the streets filling with excited people; there was mad shouting, the clash of arms. "A Visconti! a Visconti!"
"We shall be crushed to death," said Adrian. "I must find you shelter, lady," and he looked around eagerly.
"The Duke—the Duke!" and the great gates began to open.
"It is useless!" cried Valentine, "and as well die this way as another."
"There is a door here," said Isotta; and turning with difficulty, they saw indeed a door, deep set in the wall and closely shut.
In desperation, Adrian knocked loudly. "A Visconti!" shouted the soldiers. "A Visconti!" ”

“ Graziosa picked a cluster of roses and buried her face in them.
"How beautiful they are!" she said. "See, they have little hearts all gold, never showing till they die; a pretty fancy, is it not?" And she stroked them tenderly.
"Bassano has fallen?" she repeated idly.
"Yes, and 'tis said they cannot fail in getting Reggio."
"Then my lord's arms are everywhere victorious!" cried Graziosa with sparkling eyes.
"As ever, lady," was the answer.
"And we can hope for peace," continued Graziosa softly.
"And when peace is proclaimed you will be Duchess—almost Queen—of Lombardy, Gian Visconti's wife!" ”

“ It is quite certain, signore. He has murdered several obstinate people since I have been here, and the outside world will never know their fate. It is folly to oppose the king. Were you not rich you would not be here. Il Duca knows the exact wealth of every American who travels abroad and is likely to visit Sicily. Many escape him, but a few wander into his toils, for he is wonderfully sagacious. Mark you: he does not demand your all; he merely takes tribute, leaving his victims sufficient to render life desirable to them. ”

“ Above, the celestial trio rises over the mountain line, Poverty turning a regretful face to her humble bridegroom. The simple pattern with its swaying lines derives from Simone Martini, but there is none of his 93petulant superiority in it, none of his nervousness. The realm is not the airless heights of a pure æstheticism but a very human dreamland. Again Duccio at his best is the closest analogy. Bernard Berenson in his admirable little book A Painter of the Franciscan Legend well describes the technical perfection of such work as this. ”

“ The Duchess still lives, a prisoner in Milan, but Della Scala——"
He sighed deeply, and rose as if to put from him the memory of the tragedy.
"But to return to thy deliverer," he said, "one Francisco di Coldra, thou say'st; he claims I know him. What manner of a man is he?"
As he spoke he moved with Tomaso to the door, and looked out into the dark. What kept Francisco and the Count?
"He is tall and strong," replied Tomaso, "with thick brown hair and heavy eyes; a handsome face, I think it, father, stern and sad. He is worn—as if from sickness. The Count thinks him better than he gives out ”

“ I am ashamed of thee, Vincenzo."
D'Este's beautiful face flushed crimson.
"'Tis not always the leathern jacket comes out best at time of need, my lord," he said defiantly. "Try me in it in a fight."
Della Scala's glance softened; he laid his hand on the boy's shoulder gently.
"Thou art a d'Este and my brother, Vincenzo. I do not fear thy behavior in battle, only learn the harder part—to bear thyself while waiting."
Vincenzo was melted, but not caring to show it before Conrad, left the tent without reply.
"He hath the makings of a soldier in him for all his willfulness. ”

“ She drew nearer the head of the table, d'Orleans dropping a step behind.
"My lords, the Duke left me in power; in any absence he may make, enforced or at his pleasure, I rule in Milan."
"You, lady!" cried Giannotto, the words forced from him in his great surprise.
"I," answered Valentine. "Though I am no man—I am a Visconti. Has not the Duke left me in charge before, de Lana?" ”

“ Duccio of Siena, therefore, a painter much esteemed, deservedly appropriated a large amount of the fame which fell to the lot of those who succeeded him for many years after, he being the first to commence the decoration of the pavement of the Sienese cathedral with those figures in “chiaroscuro”, wherein the artists of later times have performed the marvellous works that we now see. ”

“ The duke learned the news of this decision, so much desired, when he arrived at Fano on the 20th of December 1502. At once he summoned eight of his most faithful friends, among whom were d'Enna, his nephew, Michelotto, and Ugo di Cardona, and ordered them, as soon as they arrived at Sinigaglia, and had seen Vitellozzo, Gravina, Oliveratta, and Orsino come out to meet them, on a pretext of doing them honour, to place themselves on the right and left hand of the four generals, two beside each, so that at a given signal they might either stab or arrest them ”

“ He turned to pass on his way, but the young man sprang lightly after him and caught his mantle.
“The People!” he laughed. “Did not the People shout for Lorenzo yesterday? Will they not shout for Piero to-morrow!”
Frà Girolamo looked at him with serene eyes.
“Never for the Medici,” he answered. “Never for the tyrant. Florence is free.”
“You are a bold man to say so,” returned the stranger, standing at his ease, with one foot on the lowest hospital step. “Free! No, Florence is no freer than she was five years ago; only now it is you who rule instead of the Magnificent. But not for long, Friar.” ”

“ Uncle Christopher calls me Baby! and Mark Gore, when he is here, calls me Duchess, and Dicky Browne calls me Tom, and Roger calls me—I really quite forget what it is Roger calls me," with a slight shrug of her shoulders.
"Is Dicky Browne your fiancé?" asks Miss Vibart, uncertainly; "I know you are engaged to somebody; Auntie Maud told me that."
"Dicky Browne! Oh, no!" Then, with the gayest little laugh in the world, "If you could only see Dicky Browne! He couldn't, by any possibility, be anybody's fiancé! You mean Roger, I suppose." ”

“ But Della Scala had risen.
"Spare thyself a catalogue of their virtue, my lord of Padua," he said. "For I refuse thy offer—one well worthy of a Carrara!"
Giacomo paled with anger; his merchant descent was a sore point, and Mastino's words struck home.
[Pg 117]
"Refuse!" exclaimed Ippolito. "Ten thousand men!" Della Scala glanced at him with scorn.
"Ten thousand men!" he echoed. "Yes, I refuse ten thousand men. I thought thou once loved me, d'Este, and wert too much of a soldier to dishonor me by such a proposal."
"We can make it more—" began Ippolito. ”

“ But he was betrayed, Tomaso, by a dastard in his pay, and the Visconti's soldiers poured in through the breach, secretly, and seized the palace, the Duke unwitting till it was too late and the palace flaming. I had to carry him the news; may I never have to do the like again. The palace was a sheet of fire, the Duchess was within, and the Visconti's soldiers swarming. The Prince rushed like a madman through the streets, a little group of us behind him. Too late! The Duchess was too great a prize, the miscreants had lost no time, and she was gone. ”

“ This became more practicable when Ducie’s attention was diverted to a little girl of twelve who had boarded the packet with her father at the landing of a fashionable suburban school some distance up the river, evidently designing to spend the week-end at home. She was a bouncing little girl, with liquid black eyes, and dark red hair, long and abundant, plaited on either side of her head and tied up with black ribbon bows of preposterously wide loops. ”

“ Dicky Browne, of course, is in his element. He is dancing with everybody, talking to everybody, flirting with everybody, and is, as he himself declares, "as jolly as a sand boy." He is making love indiscriminately all round—with old maids and young—married and single—with the most touching impartiality.
"Dicky is like the bee amongst the flowerets. By Jove, if he improves the shining hours, he ought to make a good match yet," says Dicky's papa, who has condescended to forsake his club for one night, and grace Dulce's ball with his somewhat attenuated charms. ”

“ The Duke of Milan gives a day in which my Lord of Verona may decide upon his answer."
"Give them their answer now," whispered Ligozzi, eagerly. "Do not let them imagine for one moment that you hesitate."
Mastino did not heed him; he sat as if frozen.
"Leave me to—" the words died on his lips. "Leave me—to answer—I will give you my answer—anon."
De Lana and Giannotto moved in silence to the far end of the tent.
"Visconti is a fiend," said de Lana, with a gesture of revolt. "Santa Maria, I wish I had never seen this Della Scala. His face will haunt me." ”

“ Since I do not hurt thee by the recollection, messer, let me tell thee, it was a splendid sight, that night the Duke returned. I live a quiet life, as an artist may do, even in Milan. I know little, I care little for the wars of princes. They tell me the Visconti's crimes outnumber the stars; but, messer, his shadow has not fallen across my house, and what one does not see one does not fear—but when he returned from Verona! that was a sight, messer. ”

“ Luc leant forward, and with a bent poker stirred the fire into a sparkle of embers.
“I fear, Monsieur le Maréchal,” he said, “that you begin to grow old.”
The Duke laughed.
“Old!” he repeated. “Old!” He rose. “My God! do you think I am old? Look at me, Monsieur—am I old?”
Luc turned his head towards him.
“I can scarcely see you at all,” he said serenely. “I only see something gold and purple. I am, Monsieur, half blind.”
The Duke stared at him.
“If I was stricken like you, I would fall on my sword!” he exclaimed impulsively.
“Each has his own courage,” replied Luc. ”

“ This was indeed an adventure after the Lothario Duc's heart—an adventure with love as its reward and danger as its spur. And thus it was that, a few weeks after the Duchess had sent her invitation, two travel-stained pedlars, with packs on their backs, entered the city of Modena to find customers for their books and phamphlets. At the small hostelry whose hospitality they sought the hawkers gave their names as Gasparini and Romano, names which masked the identities of the knight-errant Duc and his friend, La Fosse, respectively. ”

“ I have sent trusty scouts to Brescia. This silence cannot last long now; either Mastino or Visconti march this way—and in either case we shall be ready to receive them, Vincenzo."
The younger d'Este lapsed into silence. Ippolito, too, was quiet, and the pause was broken by an officer entering.
"The Count von Schulembourg," he began.
"Conrad!" cried Vincenzo, springing up.
"Has he news?" asked his father, eagerly.
"I know not, my lord," replied the soldier. "He is riding unattended, and craves a passage through the town."
"He is riding away!" said Vincenzo—"away from Milan!" ”