Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/406

398 blent with such perfect harmony, that one would rather suppose it to be in relief than a painting.

Giorgione found much pleasure in fresco-painting, and, among other works of this kind undertaken by him, Avas one for the Soranzo Palace, Avhich is situate on the Piazza di San Paolo: here he painted the entire fa9ade, on which, to say nothing of the representation of various historical events, or of many fanciful stories, there is an oil-painting, executed on the plaster, which has endured the action of rain, sun, and wind to the present day, and yet preserves its freshness wholly unimpaired. In the same place there is, moreover, a picture of Spring, which appears to me to be one of Giorgione’s best works in fresco, and it is much to be lamented that this painting has been so cruelly injured by time. For my part, I am persuaded that there is nothing which so grievously injures fresco-paintings as do the south winds, and this they do more particularly when the work is in the neighbourhood of the sea, since they then ahvays bring with them a saline humidity which is exceedingly noxious. In the year 1504, there happened a most terrible conflagration at the Exchange, or Magazines of the German Merchants, near the bridge of the Rialto, whereby the building was entirely consumed, with all the wares contained in it, to the great loss of the merchants. The Signoria of Venice thereupon commanded that it should be rebuilt, with increased convenience for those who used it or divelt therein, all which was speedily commenced with great magnificence, and, in due time, was accomplished in a style of infinite beauty and with rich decoration. Giorgione, Avhose fame had constantly extended, Avas consulted on this occasion, and received a commission from those ivho had charge of the matter, to paint the building in fresco of various colours, according to his own fancy; provided only that he gave proof of his ability, and produced a work of adequate excellence, the edifice being in one of the finest sites, and commanding one of the most admirable views in the whole city. Giorgione set hand to the ivork accordingly, but thought only