Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/359

Rh certain saints, in the midst of whom is a figure of San Cristofano in relief.

From Siena, Luca Signorelli repaired to Florence for the purpose of beholding the works of the living masters, as well as those of the departed: he there depicted nude figures of the Gods, on canvas, for Lorenzo de’ Medici, a work which was highly extolled, and a picture of Our Lady, with two prophets, small figures in terretta. This is now at Gastello, a villa belonging to the Signor Duke Cosimo. Both of these works he presented to the above-named Lorenzo, who never sufiered himself to be surpassed in liberality and generosity by any man. This master likewise painted a round picture of Our Lady, which is in the AudienceChamber belonging to the Chiefs of the Guelphic Council, and is exceedingly beautiful. At Chiusuri, in the territory of Siena, one of the principal abodes of the Monks of Monte Oliveto, Luca painted eleven historical scenes on one side of the cloister, representing therein events from the life of San Benedetto. From Cortona our artist sent certain of his works to Montepulciano, and to Foiano he sent an altarpiece, which is now on the high altar of the Capitular church: other pictures were, in like manner, sent to other places in the Valdichiana. In the Madonna of Orvieto, which is the principal church of that city, Luca Signorelli finished the chapel which had been commenced by Fra Giovanni da