Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/195

Rh still be performing, an infinite number of miracles. This last-mentioned work I do not intend to pronounce Cavallini’s best, although it has so great a name throughout all Italy, but I am entirely and fully convinced, from the mode of its execution, that this picture is from the hand of Pietro, whose most praiseworthy life, and piety towards God, were worthy to be imitated by all men. Nor let any one suppose that a man ever attains a truly honourable station, without purity of life and the fear of God, for that is well-nigh impossible, as our daily experience fully proves. Giovanni of Pistoja, who painted some pictures, but of no great importance, in his native city, was a disciple of Pietro Cavallini. The latter died at Rome, in the 85th year of his age, of pleurisy, caused by his labours in fresco, and by the damp to which he was exposed, in a too long continued exercise of his occupation.

He painted about the year 1364, and was honourably interred in the church of St. Paul, without the walls of Rome, where the following epitaph was placed on his tomb:— “ Quantum Romanae Petrus decus addidit urbi Pictura, tantum dat decus ipse polo.” I have been unable to discover any likeness of this artist, in spite of all the pains I have taken for that purpose.

Most truly may those men be called happy who are by nature disposed to the cultivation of the arts, for not only may they derive great honour and profit therefrom in their