Giorgio Vasari’s Mercury: God of Magic and Wisdom

作     者：Liana De Girolami Cheney 

作者机构：Universidad de CorunaGaliciaSpain 

出 版 物：《Cultural and Religious Studies》 (文化与宗教研究（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2019年第7卷第10期

页      面：511-549页

学科分类：08[工学] 0812[工学-计算机科学与技术（可授工学、理学学位）] 

主　　题：Hermes/Mercury Hades/Pluto mythology astrology symbolism Palazzo Vecchio Sala degli Elementi classical and Renaissance traditions tarot cards Neoplatonism history painting 

摘      要：In 1555,assisted by Cristofano Gherardi,Il Doceno(1508-1556),Giorgio Vasari(1511-1574)designed and painted a mythological and cosmological theme in the Sala degli Elementi,an apartment of Cosimo I de’Medici(1519-1574),Duke of Florence,at the Palazzo Vecchio in *** Apartment of the Elements is dedicated to the four elements(air,earth,fire,and water),which in antiquity were considered to be the basis of the material of the *** four elements are personified as a history painting theme on the ceiling and the walls of the ***,on the ceiling is the element of Air,personified by several events:Its center depicts Saturn Mutilating Heaven and surrounding this scene are The Chariots of the Sun and the Moon,the images of Day and Night,and the virtues of Peace,Fame,Justice,and *** the walls of the chamber,there are personifications of the elements of Earth(north),Fire(east),and Water(south).The frescoes on the left hand wall relate to the element of *** the center of the north wall,the first fruits of the Earth are offered to Saturn.1 On the adjacent wall,east wall,above the fireplace,are scenes relating to the element of Fire:Vulcan’s Forge is depicted in the center of wall.2 On the adjacent wall,south wall,the element of Water is symbolized with The Birth of Venus.3 On the window wall,west wall,are two large niches containing simulated sculptures of Hermes-Mercury and *** two images connect thematically with the wall decoration of the elements and the pantheon of the gods on the *** essay will focus only on the image of *** consists of two parts:the stylistic impact of classical and Renaissance sources of this astral and pagan god in Vasari’s imagery,and the signification of the personification of Mercury associated and interconnected with Cosimo I de’Medici,Duke of Florence.