Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/189

Rh where he painted a chapel in fresco, and a picture in distemper, in company with other artists, he gave further proof of his judgment, and of the genius for the pictorial arts with which he had been endowed. In Orvieto, moreover, Lorenzetti painted in fresco the principal chapel of the church of Santa Maria, and afterwards proceeding to Florence, he executed a picture in one of the chapels of the church of San Procolo, with stories in small figures from the life of San Nicolo, at the request of some of his friends, who were anxious to become acquainted with his modes of proceeding. The practised dexterity of Ambruogio enabled him to complete these works in so short a time, that his name and reputation were greatly extended thereby. In consequence of this work, on the predella of which he painted his own portrait, Lorenzetti was invited to Cortona in the year 1335, by order of bishop Ubertini, then lord of that city. Here he painted several pictures in the church of Santa Margarita, which had been erected on the summit of the mountain a short time previously by the monks of St. Francis. The interior walls, and one half of the ceiling, were so carefully done, that although this work is now almost destroyed by time, yet there is great animation still to be perceived in the figures through all its parts, and we cannot but admit that it has been deservedly praised. These paintings being completed, Ambruogio returned to Siena, where he lived honourably for the remainder of his days, and was universally admired, not only as an excellent master in painting, but also because, having applied himself to science and letters in his youth, these formed a pleasant and useful accompaniment to his pictorial studies, and so richly adorned his whole life, that they contributed, no less than his gifts as a painter, to render him beloved and respected. Lorenzetti had at all times frequented the society of learned and virtuous men, and was permitted to take part in the cares of governing his native city, to his no small honour and profit. The life of Ambruogio was in all respects praiseworthy, and rather that of a gentleman and philosopher than of an artist; and,