he had to set each figure in
gold-wire.

Finally, is it necessary to speak of the date of the _Primavera_? This
would occasion a long discussion if the space were accorded me. Let it
suffice to say that the biography written by Vasari merits no credence,
that it has been unfortunately accepted by the majority of historians,
and that we have not yet a good chronology of Botticelli's works, nor
even a simple catalogue. As for the chronology, most historians, relying
upon Vasari, place nearly all of Botticelli's works before his trip to
Rome in 1481. I think, on the contrary, and I will prove it elsewhere,
that the great productive period of Botticelli belongs to the ten last
years of the century and that the _Primavera_ should be classed in this
period. The _Primavera_ represents, with _The Birth of Venus_ and _The
Adoration of the Magi_, the culminating point of Botticelli's art.

Jouin, _Chefs-d'oeuvre; Peinture, Sculpture, Architecture_
(Paris, 1895-97).

FOOTNOTES:

[31] See notably the _Stanze_ of Politian, where one will find nearly
all the details of Botticelli's picture; the shady grove, the flowery
meadow, even the attitudes and the garments of the personages. Is it not
a figure of Botticelli's which is thus described:

"She is white and white is her robe,
All painted with flowers, roses, and blades of grass."

Transcriber's Notes:

{a} Possible typo for sinister?

{b} Van die Beroerlicke Tijden in die Nederlanden. Tijden appears in
text as Tij den. Other sources give Tyden as another spelling.

Most of the illustrations in this book have links to colored images on
other sites on the internet. If the links don't work, try the "Web
Gallery of Art" at http://www.wga.hu/ Then search for the artist or
painting of interest. Since this is not an html file, you may wish
to copy to link you are interested in, into your browser, where you
can view the related image.

BOTTICELLI The Birth of Venus _Florence_ 6
http://www.wga.hu/art/b/botticel/5allegor/30birth.jpg

VERONESE The Queen of Sheba _Turin_ 16

MICHAEL ANGELO The Last Judgment _Rome_ 18
http://gallery.euroweb.hu/art/m/michelan/3sistina/lastjudg/0lastjud.jpg

CORREGGIO Magdalen _Dresden_ 28

VAN DER HELST The Banquet of the Arquebusiers _Amsterdam_ 34
http://gallery.euroweb.h