Lives of the most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 06 (of 10): Fra Giocondo to Niccolo SoggiVasari, Giorgio
History
Lives of the most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 06 (of 10): Fra Giocondo to Niccolo Soggi
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
There was executed at this time, by order of Pope Leo, the vaulting of
the Hall of the Pontiffs, which is that through which one passes by way
of the Loggie into the apartments of Pope Alexander VI, formerly painted
by Pinturicchio; and that vaulting was painted by Giovanni da Udine and
Perino. They executed in company the stucco-work and all those
ornaments, grotesques, and animals that are to be seen there, in
addition to the varied and beautiful inventions that were depicted by
them in the compartments of the ceiling, which they had divided into
certain circles and ovals to contain the seven Planets of Heaven drawn
by their appropriate animals, such as Jupiter drawn by Eagles, Venus by
Doves, the Moon by Women, Mars by Wolves, Mercury by Cocks, the Sun by
Horses, and Saturn by Serpents; besides the twelve Signs of the Zodiac,
and some figures from the forty-eight Constellations of Heaven, such as
the Great Bear, the Dog Star, and many others, which, by reason of their
number, we must pass over in silence, without recounting them all in
their order, since anyone may see the work; which figures are almost all
by the hand of Perino. In the centre of the vaulting is a circle with
four figures representing Victories, seen foreshortened from below
upwards, who are holding the Pope's Crown and the Keys; and these are
very well conceived and wrought with masterly art, to say nothing of the
delicacy with which he painted their vestments, veiling the nude with
certain light draperies that partly reveal the naked legs and arms, a
truly graceful and beautiful effect. This work was justly held, as it
still is at the present day, to be very magnificent and rich in
craftsmanship, and also cheerful and pleasing; worthy, in short, of that
Pontiff, who did not fail to reward their labours, which truly deserved
some signal remuneration.
Perino decorated a facade in chiaroscuro--a method brought into use at
that time by the example of Polidoro and Maturino--which is opposite to
the house of the Marchioness of Massa, near Maestro Pasquino, executing
it with great boldness of design and with supreme diligence.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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