Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/275

Rh San Jacopo, together with a likeness of himself. The excellence of this work, in fine, obtained a very high reputation for its author.

While Andrea was occupied with the paintings of the Chapel of San Cristofano, he also executed a picture which was placed on the Altar of San Luca, in the Church of Santa Justina, and he afterwards painted the Arch over the door of Sant’ Antonino, in fresco, a work to which he affixed his name.

In Verona he painted the altar-piece of San Cristofano and that of Sant’ Antonio, with certain figures on one side of the Piazza della Paglia. In Santa Maria in Organo, Andrea Mantegna painted the picture of the high altar for the monks of Monte Oliveto, an exceedingly beautiful thing; and in like manner he executed that for the altar of San Zeno. Among other works performed by Andrea during his stay in Verona, were many which he sent into different places: one of these, obtained by an abbot of the abbey of Fiesole, his friend and relation, was a half-length figure of Our Lady with the Child in her arms, and heads of angels singing, which are painted with infinite grace: this picture is now in the library of the abbey, and has always been considered an extraordinary work. At the time when he was living in Mantua, Andrea had been frequently employed by the Marquis Ludovico Gonzaga, who always favoured him and esteemed his talents very highly. That noble caused him therefore to paint, among other works, a small picture for the chapel in the castle of Mantua; the figures in this work are not very large, but are exceedingly beautiful. In the same j)ainting are various forms, which, as seen from below, are