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Vasari said that Botticelli's "home Pucci ... written four charming little pictures with small figures on the story of Boccaccio Nastagio degli Honest. " These songs on the occasion of marriage Dzhanotstso Pucci and Lucrezia Bini in 1483 commissioned the artist Lorenzo the Magnificent.

Botticelli belongs to the general idea; on cardboard, prepared by him, over pictures of his associates employed Bartolomeo di Giovanni, and Jacopo Zelaya. This was not due to such a high level of performance, as in the author's works of Sandro. While the overall elegance of form and dramatic tension of the lines seem dry, and color - enamel and sharp.

In the first three episodes of recognizable hand Bartolomeo di Giovanni, and in the latter - Jacopo Sellayo, closely follow fashion Sandro. Particular impression transfer of spatial environments, be it an episode that takes place in a grove niny in Ravenna, or the scene of the feast on the occasion of the wedding Nastagio with his rambunctious bride, the daughter of Paolo Graversari.

As usual with Botticelli, songs combine the dramatic content and the elegance of his interpretations (a slim figure, graceful movements), embodying the effect on the brink of reality and fantasy, in which is making its emphasis Burn purity of color in the transfer of the elements of architecture and nature.

All four paintings were in the Pucci family until the middle of the XIX century, has not yet come unfavorable period to preserve the Italian national artistic heritage, especially kvatrocheitistskoy painting. Now they are divided between the Prado Museum in Madrid (the first three episodes) and a collection Uotni in London (the fourth episode).

It's a wonderful wedding gift.

If someone does not remember, here's a summary of this short story:

In Ravenna, the ancient city of Romagna, was once the noblest and many distinguished people, among them a young man named Nastagio degli Honest, remaining on the death of his father and one uncle, immensely wealthy man.

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What often happens with young men, he, not being married, fell in love with the daughter of Messer Paolo Traversari, the girl was more noble than himself, hoping his acts to induce her to love him, but as they were big, beautiful and praiseworthy They not only helped him, but seemed even harmed - so harsh, cruel and inhospitable was provided to him girlfriend, who became, perhaps because of its extraordinary beauty and gentility, before the proud and haughty, and that he did not like her and nothing that pleased him.

Nastagio it was such a burden that often with grief after complaints he had was a desire to commit suicide, but checking himself, he resolved many times in my soul just to leave it, and if he can, then hate, she hated him, but the intentions it had been in vain, because, it seemed, to the extent that, as diminishing hope, multiplied by his love.

And when the young man went so loving and lavish without measure, some of his friends and relatives thought he was equally upset, and their health and their wealth; so that they asked him many times and advised to withdraw from Ravenna and go live a time in any other place, because if he did so, humble and love and a waste.

Above the Board Nastagio often derided, but finally, simplified them and not being able to refuse them, he said that will be performed; ordering to make great preparations, as if the intention to go to France or Spain or other remote place, he sat on his horse, and accompanied by many friends left the Ravenna, went to one place, maybe three miles of Ravenna, called Chiasso, and here, and ordered to deliver tents and marquees, said that accompanied him, that he wants to stay here, but they shall return to Ravenna.

Seated here, Nastagio began to wage the most fun and luxurious life, which you can imagine, inviting one and the other for dinner and for lunch, as was his custom.

It happened almost at the beginning of May, in perfect weather, that he remembered his cruel lady, ordered all his household to leave him alone so that he could dream about it at his pleasure, lost in thought, walking, which bore his feet, he is one reached the pine forest.

It was almost past the fifth hour of the day, and he walked with a half-mile in the woods, do not remember neither the food, or anything else, when suddenly it seemed to him that he heard a terrible cry and the sharp cries emitted by a woman, and his sweet dreams were interrupted, and he raised his head to see what was happening, he was amazed, seeing himself in the pine forest, then looked ahead and saw running towards the spot where he stood, through the woods, thickly overgrown with bushes and thorns, a delicious naked girl with unkempt hair, scratched branches and thorns, weeping loudly and who asked for mercy.

In addition, he saw on both sides of its two huge wild dogs quickly fled after her, and often brutally and bites her when they caught up with her, and behind it on a black horse appeared dark knight, his face was very angry, with a sword in his hand, fearful abusive words and threatening her with death.

All this in one and the same time, filled his soul with astonishment and dismay, and, lastly, compassion for the poor woman, which was born from the desire to save her, if that is possible, this pain and death. Seeing himself unarmed, he rushed to grab a branch of the tree instead of a stick, and went to meet the dogs and rider.

But he saw it and shouted to him from afar: "Do not disturb, Nastagio, give the dogs and I do what has earned this wicked woman."
While he spoke, the dog, firmly grasping the girl's side, held her, and came to the rescue rider dismounted.

Nastagio, approached him, said: "I do not know who you are so well acquainted with me, but I'll tell you what great meanness of an armed knight, intending to kill a naked woman on it and let loose the dogs like it - a wild beast, and I In any case, I will defend it as I can. "

Then, the rider said: "Nastagio, I come from the same town as you, and you were still a little boy, when I, who was then named Guido degli Anastadzhi was much stronger in love with the woman than you are in Traversari, and from its arrogance and brutality that came to my sorrow, that one day this very sword, which you see in my hand, I, in desperation, killed himself and condemned to eternal torment.

Some time passed, this woman, infinitely rejoiced my death, died, and the punishment of his cruelty and for the joy of what she felt from my sufferings, did not repent of that, because we believe that not only those not erred, but acted like should be , has been condemned by the torments of hell.

And as soon as she had been cast there, so me and put her punishment: she had run away from me, and I, once so who liked it, pursue it as a mortal enemy, not as the woman he loved, and how many times I catch up it, so same time this sword, which I killed myself, killing her, exposed her back, and this heart, cruel and cold, where no love, no compassion, never have been able to penetrate, kicking, as you immediately see, from the body with all the other innards and throw on pozhranie dogs.

And not much time passes, as it is, to address the Lord of justice and power, is resurrected, as it does not die, and again begins a painful flight, but a dog and I pursue it.

And it happens every Friday at this time that I was scolding her here and here, as you see, I commend her torments, in other days, do not think that we have a rest: I catch up it in other places, where she was cruel thought to or deed to me ill: to turn, as you see, from a lover into an enemy, and thus compelled to pursue her so many years, how many months it was cruel to me. So, let me execute the decision of the divine justice and do not resent anything you have not been able to stop.

On hearing these words, Nastagio srobel, and he had no hair on the body, which has not risen to stand on end, he stepped back and looked at the unfortunate girl who was afraid to expect that would do knight as he finished his speech, attacked like a rabid dog, with a sword in his hand, the girl who in her lap, tightly held by the dogs, begging him for mercy, with all his might hit her in the middle of his chest and pierced through and through.

As soon as she took the blow and fell face down, still crying and screaming, and the knight, drawing his knife, opened her loins, and taking heart and everything that has been around, threw the dogs, who, frightened, hungry, all at once devoured . It took a long time, like a girl, as if nothing had happened, suddenly stood up and started running toward the sea, the dog - for her, all the while pulling at her, but man, once again operate a horse and has taken his sword, and began to pursue her and soon they were so remote that Nastagio could not see them more.

Seeing all this, he stayed a long time between compassion and fear, but soon it occurred to him that this case can do a great service to him, since he happens to every Friday.
And now, seeing the place, he returned to his servants, and when he found it convenient, he sent for his relatives and friends, told them:

"You have long been urging me to keep up with my love for this hostile girl and put an end to my profligacy, and I am ready to do this if you ask for one favor for me, but is it to next Friday, you arranged to Paolo Traversari with his wife and daughter and all their relatives and all others like, come here to dine with me. Why am I so desire, you will see it then. "

It seemed to arrange it - it is not difficult. When he returned to Ravenna, they, when the time came, we invited those who wanted Nastagio, and although it was difficult to entertain there girl, favorite Nastagio, however, and she went along with the other.

Nastagio ordered to prepare a great feast and ordered to put the tables under the pine trees near the place where he had seen the brutal stabbing a woman. Having arranged seating for men and women at the table, he arranged so that the girl he loved, was planted just opposite the place where it was supposed to happen.

When the last dish served until all were heard the desperate cries of the persecuted girl. When all is that they were astonished, asking what it is, and no one could explain that, they all got up to see what this could be, and saw a girl complaining, rider and dog. Not much time has passed, as they were all around them.

And the rider and the dogs were greeted with a loud cry, and many sprang forward to help the girl, but the rider who turned to him, as applied to Nastagio not only made them backed away, but Mr. and performed all frightened amazement. And when he did everything that I did the first time, all women (and among them there were many relatives of the poor girl and the knight, who remembered, and his love and his death) so bitterly wept as if they themselves were executed all seen.

When it came to an end and left the girl and the knight, what has happened has prompted those who saw it on the many and various conversations, but from the most frightened was the cruel girl he loved Nastagio all clear who saw and heard, knowing that her more than all others, there ex is concerned, she remembered hardness with what has always belonged to Nastagio why she imagined that she had run before him, angry, and the dogs with her on all sides.


And so it was great, arising from the fear, as if it had not happened the same thing, that she could not wait for the time, but it seemed to her the same evening that, replacing his hatred to love, to send to Nastagio his trusted servant , which on its behalf, asked him to come to her, because she is ready to do all that he will be optional.

At this Nastagio ordered to answer that it is very nice, but what if she consents, he wants to make it an honest way, that is to marry her.

The girl, who knew that for her, not for others, it has become, if it does not become Nastagio wife, told him to convey that she agreed. The result is that, having become an intercessor for itself, she said, her father and mother that she was ready to marry Nastagio what they were glad, and the following Sunday Nastagio betrothed and married her, and long lived with her happily ever after.

And it is not only a good thing that gave rise to fear, but all other hard-hearted ravennckie ladies so frightened that have since become condescend to the desires of men far more than the former.