Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/334

326 326 LIVES OF THE ARTISTS. cuted a story representing the Miracle of the Milk. This master left many works, in his native place, of Montevarchi. Gerino da Pistoja, of whom we have made mention in the life of Pinturicchio, also received instruction from Pietro Perugino, with whom he remained for a long time. The Florentine Baccio Ubertino was, in like manner, among Pietro’s disciples, and was an artist of infinite diligence and care in his colouring, as well as design, for which cause Pietro made much use of his services. We have a drawing in our book by the hand of Baccio Ubertino, Christ scourged at the Column namely, it is done with the pen, and is a very charming design.

This Baccio had a brother, who was also a disciple of Pietro Perugino: his name was Francesco, but by way of surname he was called Bacchiacca. He was a very careful painter of small figures, as may be seen from many works which he executed in Florence, more especially in the Palace of Gio Maria Benintendi, and in that of Pier Francesco Borgherini. Bacchiacca took great pleasure in painting grottesche; he was, therefore, commissioned by the Signor Duke Cosimo to decorate a study for himself with figures of animals and rare plants, copied from the life, and which are considered exceedingly beautiful. He also prepared the cartoons for certain tapestries and carpets, which were afterwards woven in silk by the Flemish master, Giovanni Posto, for certain apartments in the palace of his Excellency.

Giovanni Spagnuolo, called Lo Spagna, was another disciple of Pietro Perugino: this artist was a better colourist than any of the scholars left by Pietro at his death, and, after that event, would, without doubt, have established himself in Perugia, if the envy of the painters of that city, who were most unfriendly to foreign artists, had not persecuted him to such a degree that he was compelled to depart. He then retired to Spoleto, where his excellence and ability obtained for him a wife of good family, and he was, besides,