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
For this reason Lorenzo Pucci, Cardinal Santiquattro, who had taken over
a chapel on the left hand beside the principal chapel in the Trinita, a
convent of Calabrian and French Friars who wear the habit of S. Francis
of Paola, allotted it to Perino, to the end that he might paint there in
fresco the life of Our Lady. Which having begun, Perino finished all the
vaulting and a wall under an arch; and on the outer side, also, over an
arch of the chapel, he painted two Prophets four braccia and a half in
height, representing Isaiah and Daniel, who in their great proportions
reveal all the art, excellence of design, and beauty of colouring that
can be seen in their perfection only in a picture executed by a great
craftsman. This will be clearly evident to one who shall consider the
Isaiah, in whom, as he reads, may be perceived the thoughtfulness that
study infuses in him, and his eagerness in reading new things, for he
has his gaze fixed upon a book, with one hand to his head, exactly as a
man often is when he is studying; and Daniel, likewise, is motionless,
with his head upraised in celestial contemplation, in order to resolve
the doubts of his people. Between these figures are two little boys who
are upholding the escutcheon of the Cardinal, a shield of beautiful
shape: and these boys, besides being so painted as to seem to be of
flesh, also have the appearance of being in relief. The vaulting is
divided into four scenes, separated one from another by the cross--that
is, by the ribs of the vaulting. In the first is the Conception of Our
Lady, in the second her Nativity, in the third the scene when she
ascends the steps of the Temple, and in the fourth S. Joseph marrying
her. On a wall-space equal in extent to the arch of the vaulting is her
Visitation, in which are many figures that are very beautiful, but above
all some who have climbed on certain socles and are standing in very
spirited and natural attitudes, the better to see the ceremonious
meeting of those women; besides which, there is something of the good
and of the beautiful in the buildings and in every gesture of the other
figures. He pursued this work no further, illness coming upon him; and
when he was well, there began the plague of the year 1523, which raged
so violently in Rome, that, if he wished to save his life, it became
expedient for him to make up his mind to depart.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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