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Monument of Andrea Vendranice.
On one of its pedestals it has two vulgar shields tied up
with a bit of narrow riband - 2d a yard. Below, a dragon
with a woman’s head on helmet. The spiral of the helmet
is chiselled as sharply as a nautilus shell. The body is
covered in centre with seals of various size, beautifully
set; on the back of it it has sturgeon spines on the
belly, jointed mail, its wings are c[s]ut to as sharp a
point in each plume as needles; and crescent eyed
It stands holding the helmet distinctly with its claw,
looking as though it would slip off. - it L. ends in a
woman’s head with a insipid grin and a shaft straight nose
according to Caro, turned up hair behind drawing room
fashion. The tail curls elaborately like a riband - no
invention - no clatter of scales - no terror no muscular
action in wings, utterly base - Body stuffed.
Fat legged boys sprawling on sea horses or spreading
handkerchiefs on dolphins backs occupy two panels of lower
basement, the arabesques of leaves ending in currants
with wriggly stems and birds eating them - or at least -
holding them in their bills - for there is no peck - no
life - no gesture - only the two birds delicately feather-
ed each in a proper posture opposite the other, holding
the currants as opera girls do in a ballet over the heads
of the principal figures. (Compare B3cket de Magano’s
chimney piece - where there is both spirit and life and
light and shade)
[Version 0.05: May 2008]