Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/339

Rh who were under consideration for the bronze doors of San Giovanni, although he was not in the foremost rank when the trial was made: that great work was however adjudged to another, as will be related in its proper place.

After these things Niccolo proceeded to Milan, when he was made inspector of the works in the cathedral of that city, where he executed certain sculptures in marble, which were considered very good. Finally, being recalled by the Aretines to his native city, for the purpose of constructing a tabernacle for the sacrament, he set off on his return thither, but was compelled to halt at Bologna, and erect the tomb of Pope Alexander V, who had finished the course of his years in that city: this work Niccolo at first declined to undertake, but eventually completed it, as aforesaid, in the convent of the Friars Minors, not being able to refuse the request of the Aretine Messer Leonardo Bruni, who had been a highly-favoured secretary of that pontiff. On this tomb our artist placed the portrait of Pope Alexander, taken from nature; it is true that the difficulty of procuring marble and other stones compelled him to construct the sepulchre, and form the ornaments, of stucco and terra-cotta; and in the same materials was executed the statue of the pontiff, placed on the tomb, which last is situated behind the choir in the church of the Friars Minors aforesaid. After completing this work, Niccolo fell mortally sick, and shortly expired, in the sixty-seventh year of his age. He was buried in the above-named church, in the year 1417. The portrait of this master was taken by Galasso of Ferrara, his very intimate friend, who was at that time painting in Bologna, together with the two Bolognese painters Jacopo and Simone, and a certain Cristofano,—I