Lentini

Described and illustrated in Glass (1991: 181, 182) as "an undated capital that formerly served as holy-water font in the seventeenth-century Chiesa della Fontana at Lentini"; the sides of the "basin" are ornamented with eight figures of the "labours of the months" cycle identified by inscription; Glass (ibid.) cites the following as present: "May, carrying a basket of flowers; June, a container of fruit; July, a scythe; August, a wicker basket of fruit; September, a hoe; October, a vase; and December. a hog; November is no longer legible." The upper side of the basin has a large zig-zag motif in the upper angles of which appear (lurk?) little animals; the narrower and squat round base is ornamented with a band of foliage. [NB: Glass mentions that she saw the capital in Lentini "more than fifteen years ago" (ca. 1975?), and that "two years ago" (ca. 1988?) "it was offered at Sotheby's in London. Because the details of the capital's recent provenance are unclear, it will not be sold by Sotheby's." (ibid., 181n: 95)] [NB: is this the font at the Bargello, in Lucca?]