Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/337

Rh accomplish. The work had been commenced in the Gothic style, and our artist completed it very successfully, being aided by numerous stone-cutters from Settignano. For this façade the master executed a Virgin with his own hand; she bears the divine child in her arms, and is attended by angels, who, holding back her mantle, disclose the assembled people of the city sheltered beneath it. Below this group are San Laurentino and San Pergentino on their knees, making intercession for the multitude. On each side, moreover, is a niche three braccia high, wherein stands a statue, also by Niccolo, representing the pontiff St. Gregory on the one side, with the bishop San Donato, patron saint and protector of the city, on the other; the whole work is performed in a very good and satisfactory manner. From what I can learn, it would appear that, before attempting the undertaking here described, and while still very young, Niccolo di Piero had already produced three large figures of “terra cotta”, to be placed over the door of the Cathedral, but these have been almost entirely destroyed by the frost. Another early work of the same master is the stone figure of Saint Luke, executed for the fa9ade of the same church. In the capitular church of Arezzo, and for the chapel of San Biagio, Niccolo further produced a most beautiful figure of that saint in “terra-cotta”, with a figure of St. Anthony in high relief, and also in “terra-cotta”, for the church dedicated to the name of the last-mentioned saint. Over the door of the hospital of Arezzo is another saint in a sitting position, likewise by the hand of this master. While Niccolo di Piero was occupied with these and other works, the walls of Borgo San Sepolcro were ruined by an earthquake, and Niccolo was sent for to prepare the design for new walls, which he did with great judgment, insomuch that these defences were better and stronger than they had previously been. In this manner he continued, now labour-