Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/279

Rh proceeding, Don Jacopo d’Arezzo was made general of the Confraternity of Monte Oliveto, which appointment he received nineteen years after he had caused Spinello to execute the different paintings in Florence and Arezzo, to which we have before alluded. And as Don Jacopo, after the manner of his predecessors, lived for the most part at Monte Oliveto di Chiusuri, that being the principal seat of the order, and the most important monastery within the territory of Siena, lie conceived the wish to have a very beautiful picture executed for that place; wherefore, having sent for Spinello, by whom Don Jacopo had formerly found that he was admirably served, the general caused him to paint a picture in distemper, for the principal chapel, and in this the master depicted an immense number of figures of middle size, very judiciously executed, and on a ground of gold. The picture was surrounded by a rich ornament or framework in mezzorilievo, carved in wood by the Florentine, Simone Cini, and further adorned with mouldings in stucco, tempered with a rather stiff glue, and treated in such a manner that the whole succeeded perfectly, and was very beautiful. It was afterwards gilt all over with gold by Gabriello Saracini, and this same Gabriel inscribed the three names of the artists, at the foot of the picture, in the following manner:— “Simone Cini Florentino fece l’intaglio, Gabriello Saracini la messe d’oro, e Spinello di Luca d’Arezzo la dipinse l’anno 1385.”