Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 09 (of 10): Michelagnolo to the FlemingsVasari, Giorgio
History
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 09 (of 10): Michelagnolo to the Flemings
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
Afterwards Paris was summoned to Vicenza, to paint a scene in fresco
in the Loggia of the Piazza where justice is administered, beside that
of the Judgment of Solomon which Tiziano had previously executed; and
he went very willingly, and painted there a story of Noah with his
sons, which was held to be a work passing good in diligence and in
design, and not less beautiful than that of Tiziano, insomuch that by
those who know not the truth they are considered to be both by the
same hand. Having returned to Venice, Paris executed some nudes in
fresco at the foot of the bridge of the Rialto; by reason of which
essay he was commissioned to paint some façades of houses in Venice.
Being then summoned to Treviso, he painted there likewise some façades
and other works, and in particular many portraits, which gave much
satisfaction; that of the Magnificent M. Alberto Unigo, that of M.
Marco Seravalle, and of M. Francesco da Quer, of the Canon Rovere, and
of Monsignor Alberti. For the Duomo of that city, in an altar-piece in
the centre of the church, at the instance of the reverend Vicar, he
painted the Nativity of Jesus Christ, and then a Resurrection. For S.
Francesco he executed another altar-piece at the request of the
Chevalier Rovere, another for S. Girolamo, and one for Ognissanti,
with different heads of Saints both male and female, all beautiful and
varied in the attitudes and in the vestments. He executed another
altar-piece for S. Lorenzo, and in S. Polo he painted three chapels,
in the largest of which he depicted Christ rising from the dead, the
size of life, and accompanied by a great multitude of Angels; in the
second some Saints with many Angels about them, and in the third Jesus
Christ upon a cloud, with Our Lady, who is presenting to Him S.
Dominic. All these works have made him known as an able man and a
lover of his city.
In Venice, where he has dwelt almost always, he has executed many
works at various times. But the most beautiful, the most remarkable
and the most worthy of praise that Paris ever painted, was a scene in
the Scuola of S. Marco, at SS. Giovanni e Polo, wherein is the story
of the fisherman presenting to the Signoria of Venice the ring of S.
Mark, with a very beautiful building in perspective, about which is
seated the Senate with the Doge; among which Senators are many
portraits from nature, lifelike and well painted beyond belief. The
beauty of this work, executed so well and coloured in fresco, was the
reason that he began to be employed by many gentlemen. Thus in the
great house of the Foscari, near S. Barnaba, he executed many
paintings and pictures, and among them a Christ who, having descended
to the Limbo of Hell, is delivering the Holy Fathers; which is held to
be a work out of the ordinary. For the Church of S. Giobbe in Canal
Reio he painted a most beautiful altar-piece, and for S. Giovanni in
Bragola another, and the same for S. Maria della Celeste and for S.
Marina.
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