Lives of the most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 08 (of 10): Bastiano to Taddeo ZuccheroVasari, Giorgio
History
Lives of the most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 08 (of 10): Bastiano to Taddeo Zucchero
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
Carrying that intention into effect, therefore, he went back to live in
his native place with that brother to whom he had given the canonicate,
determined that he would never more handle a brush. But in this also he
was disappointed, for the reason that, having taken a wife and had
children by her, he was in a manner forced by the instinct that a man
naturally feels to bring up his children and to leave them in good
circumstances, to set himself once more to work. He painted, then, at
the entreaty of the father of the Chevalier Giovan Francesco di
Spilimbergo, a frieze in a hall, filling it with children, festoons,
fruits, and other things of fancy. After that, he adorned with lovely
paintings and works in stucco the Chapel of S. Maria at Civitale; and
for the Canons of the Duomo of that place he executed two most beautiful
standards. And for the Confraternity of S. Maria di Castello, at Udine,
he painted on a rich banner Our Lady with the Child in her arms, and an
Angel full of grace who is offering to her that Castello, which stands
on a hill in the centre of the city. At Venice, in the Palace of
Grimani, the Patriarch of Aquileia, he decorated with stucco-work and
paintings a very beautiful chamber in which are some lovely little
scenes by the hand of Francesco Salviati.
Finally, in the year 1550, Giovanni went to Rome to take part in the
most holy Jubilee, on foot and dressed poorly as a pilgrim, and in the
company of humble folk; and he stayed there many days without being
known by anyone. But one day, while going to S. Paolo, he was recognized
by Giorgio Vasari, who was riding in a coach to the same Pardon in
company with Messer Bindo Altoviti, who was much his friend. At first
Giovanni denied that it was he, but finally he was forced to reveal
himself and to confess that he had great need of Giorgio's assistance
with the Pope in the matter of the pension that he had from the Piombo,
which was being denied to him by one Fra Guglielmo, a Genoese sculptor,
who had received that office after the death of Fra Sebastiano. Giorgio
spoke of this matter to the Pope, which was the reason that the bond was
renewed, and afterwards it was proposed to exchange it for a canonicate
at Udine for Giovanni's son. But afterwards, being again defrauded by
that Fra Guglielmo, Giovanni went from Udine to Florence, after Pope
Pius had been elected, in the hope of being assisted and favoured by his
Excellency with that Pontiff, by means of Vasari. Having arrived in
Florence, then, he was presented by Giorgio to his most illustrious
Excellency, with whom he went to Siena, and then from there to Rome,
whither there also went the Lady Duchess Leonora; and in such wise was
he assisted by the kindness of the Duke, that he was not only granted
all that he desired, but also set to work by the Pope with a good salary
to give the final completion to the last Loggia, which is the one over
that which Pope Leo had formerly caused him to decorate. That finished,
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