Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/157

Rh to have been recalled to life from the dead. For, besides that I have increased the light in the building, which was before extremely dark, by enlarging the windows existing previously, and by making others; I have further removed the choir, which formerly occupied a great portion of the church, and, to the great satisfaction of the reverend canons, have placed it behind the high altar. Then, the new altar being isolated, has a picture towards the nave, representing Christ calling Peter and Andrew from their nets, with a second picture towards the choir, on which is St. George killing the dragon. On the sides are four pictures, in each of which are two saints, the size of life. There are many other figures, moreover, above these pictures, and on the predella beneath them; but these I refrain, for the sake of brevity, from enumerating. The frame of this altar is thirteen braccia high; the height of the predella or gradino, is two braecia. In the vacant space within the altar, many venerable relics are preserved; and to these there is a commodious ascent by steps, leading to an iron door, very well executed. There are, besides, two gratings in front, by means of which the relics may be seen from without. And among these sacred treasures is the head of St. Donatus, bishop and protector of Arezzo; while, in a sarcophagus of vari-coloured marble, which I have had entirely restored and renewed, there are the relics of four saints. Before the predella of the altar, moreover, which surrounds it on all sides in due proportion, there is a tabernacle or ciborium of the sacrament, carved in wood, and gilt all over with gold. The height of this ciborium is about three braccia, and as its form is perfectly round, it can be seen from the choir as well as from the nave of the church. In all this work, I have spared neither cost nor labour, for so I thought it behoved me to do for the honour of God. Thus, according to my judgment, it has all the embellishments, of gold, carvings, paintings, marbles, travertine, porphyry, and other stones of price, that I could possibly bring together for the purpose.