Ménippée is attributable not only to its literary merit but
also to its strategic publication at the moment of the
league’s final defeat.
Saturn In Roman mythology, the god of agriculture, who
was later identified with the Greek Kronos. His reign, after
he had overthrown his father Uranus, was a legendary
Golden Age, the Saturnia regna celebrated by VIRGILin the
fourth eclogue. He was believed to be the father of Jupiter
(Zeus) and several of the other major deities in the pagan
pantheon.
In astrological terms the planet Saturn was predomi-
nantly a malign force. The metal associated with it was
lead, and the qualities of slowness, coldness, and heavi-
ness were supposed to manifest themselves in the charac-
ters of those under the planet’s influence. In certain cases
the gloomy temperament of the saturnine man was ac-
companied by intellectual and creative prowess (see
MELANCHOLIA).
Savery, Roelant (c. 1576–1639) Flemish painter
He was born in Courtrai but studied in Amsterdam under
Jacques Savery (died 1602), who was probably his brother.
Around 1604 he entered the employment of Emperor
RUDOLF IIand spent about eight years in Prague, where he
became one of the emperor’s favorite artists in the sym-
bolic mannerist mode that Rudolf particularly liked. Sav-
ery specialized in precise depiction of animals, observing
from life some of the more exotic species in the emperor’s
menagerie; he painted at least 20 variations on the theme
of ORPHEUSand the animals, and his famous Paradise (Na-
tional Gallery, Prague) is another example of his fantastic
mélanges of exotic and domestic birds and beasts. He also
produced some fine mountain landscapes, the fruit of
travels in the Alps and Tyrol (1606–08) at the emperor’s
behest. His exquisite flower paintings are among the ear-
liest of their kind, although not so frequent in his prolific
output. After working for Rudolf’s successor, Matthias, in
Vienna (1612–16), Savery returned to the Netherlands
and settled at Utrecht in 1619, where his fame and ability
brought him many admirers and followers.
Savile, Sir Henry (1549–1622) English mathematician
and humanist
Savile was born at Bradley, near Halifax, and educated at
Oxford University, where he was appointed warden of
Merton College in 1585. He also served Queen ELIZABETH
Ias Greek tutor and Latin secretary, and from 1596 he was
provost of Eton. He wrote or edited a number of books,
the most substantial being his eight-volume Greek edition
of St. John Chrysostom (1610–13) to which he con-
tributed £8000 of his own money. He also helped his
friend Thomas Bodley to found the BODLEIAN LIBRARY. He
is best remembered, however, for his attempt to reintro-
duce science into Oxford by founding in 1619 the Savilian
chairs of geometry and astronomy, the first recognizably
scientific professorships to be established at any English
university.Savini, Guido di (Guido Andries) (died 1541) Italian
potter
He first worked at Castel Durante (now Urbania), near
Urbino, but by 1508 had moved to Antwerp, where he in-
troduced the making of MAJOLICA. Three of his sons were
later responsible for transferring the technique to Eng-
land.Savoldo, Giovanni Girolamo (c. 1480–c. 1548) Italian
painter
Born in Brescia, Savoldo trained in Florence but worked
chiefly in Venice, apart from a few years spent in Milan
(c. 1529–35). He was influenced by TITIAN, GIORGIONE,
BELLINI, and Lorenzo LOTTOand became known for his
skillful handling of light effects, especially in night scenes.
His masterpiece, the Transfiguration (Uffizi, Florence), an-
ticipates the realism of CARAVAGGIO, while other paintings
such as Magdalene (National Gallery, London) and Gaston
de Foix (Louvre, Paris), which follows the contemporary
fashion of linking painting with sculpture, illustrate
Savoldo’s mastery of texture and materials. Other works
include the Nativity (1527; Hampton Court, London), the
altarpiece for Sta. Maria, Verona (1523), and St. Jerome
(National Gallery, London).Savonarola, Girolamo (1452–1498) Italian preacher and
politician
Savonarola was born in Ferrara and became a Dominican
friar at Bologna in 1475. From 1482 he lectured at the
convent of San Marco, Florence, of which he became prior
in 1491. Despite the patronage of Lorenzo de’ Medici, he
preached in favor of ecclesiastical reform and against the
high-handed and materialistic rule of the MEDICI; the emo-
tional power of his sermons made him a valuable ally for
the forces in Florence that brought about the exile of the
Medici in 1494. His moral teaching was narrow-minded
and puritanical, and during his ascendancy he presided
over bonfires of “vanities,” exercised strict control over re-
ligious art, and tried to eliminate gambling and licentious
dress and behavior. His influence was extraordinary, espe-
cially with the young.
In 1494 he became de facto leader of a republic that
revived Florence’s ancient democratic institutions, which
had fallen into disuse under the Medici. His actions, espe-
cially his support for Charles VIII’s invasion of Italy, in-
curred the enmity of the duke of Milan, Pope Alexander
VI, and the Franciscans. He also ignored papal briefs sum-
moning him to Rome, ordering him to return to Bologna,
and forbidding him to preach. In 1496 he was deprived of
his post at San Marco by the amalgamation of the congre-
gation there with that of another church. He responded bySSaavvoonnaarroollaa,, GGiirroollaammoo 4 42299