[Illustration: S. SAMUELE] here; and this for many reasons, which I will tell, when occasion is granted me to speak. Q. What is the picture to which you have been referring? A. It is the picture which represents the Last Supper of Jesus Christ with His disciples in the house of Simon. Q. Where is this picture? A. In the refectory of the monks of San Giovanni e Paolo. Q. Is it painted in fresco or on wood or on canvas? A. It is on canvas. Q. How many feet does it measure in height? A. It may measure seventeen feet. Q. And in breadth? A. About thirty-nine. Q. In this Supper of our Lord, have you painted (other) persons? A. Yes. Q. How many have you represented? And what is each one doing? A. First there is the innkeeper, Simon; then, under him, a carving squire whom I supposed to have come there for his pleasure, to see how the service of the table is managed. There are many other figures which I cannot remember, however, as it is a long time since I painted that picture. Q. Have you painted other Last Suppers besides that one? A. Yes. Q. How many have you painted? Where are they? A. I painted one at Verona for the reverend monks of San Lazzaro; it is in their refectory. Another is in the refectory of the reverend brothers of San Giorgio here in Venice. Q. But that one is not a Last Supper, and is not even called the Supper of Our Lord. A. I painted another in the refectory of San Sebastiano in Venice, another at Padua for the Fathers of the Maddalena. I do not remember to have made any others. Q. In this Supper which you painted for San Giovanni e Paolo, what signifies the figure of him whose nose is bleeding? A. He is a servant who has a nose-bleed from some accident? Q. What signify those armed men dressed in the fashion of Germany, with halberds in their hands? A. It is necessary here that I should say a score of words. Q. Say them. A. We painters use the same license as poets and madmen, and I represented those halberdiers, the one drinking, the other eating at the foot of the stairs, but both ready to do their duty, because it seemed to me suitable and possible that the master of the house, who as I have been told was rich and magnificent, should have such servants. Q. And the one who is dressed as a jester with a parrot on his wrist, why did you put him into the picture? A. He is there as an ornament, as it is usual to insert such figures. Q. Who are the persons at the table of Our Lord? A. The twelve apostles. Q. What is Saint Peter doing, who is the first? A. He is carving the lamb in order to pass it to the other part of the table. Q. What is he doing who comes next?