Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/412

404 Lombardy and visited Rome, he would have performed wonders, nay, would have given a dangerous rival to many who, in his day, were called great artists. Be this as it may, his works, being what they are, although he had never seen those of antiquity, nor was even acquainted with the best works of the modern masters; it necessarily follows that if he had studied these works he would have materially improved his own, and, proceeding from good to better, would have attained to the highest summit of excellence. We may, indeed, athrm with certainty that no artist has handled the colours more effectually than himself, nor has any painted v/ith a more charming manner, or given a more perfect relief lO his figures, so exquisite was the softness of the carnations from his hand, so attractive the grace with which he finished his works. In the cathedral of Parma, before mentioned, Antonio painted two large pictures in oil: in one of these among other things is a figure of the Dead Christ, which has been very highly extolled. In the church of San Giovanni, in the same city, he painted a tribune in fresco, and in this work he depicted Our Lady ascending into Heaven, amidst a Multitude of angels, and surrounded by numerous saints. It appears almost impossible that the fancy of man should be capable of conceiving a work such as this is, much more that he should be able to execute it with the hand, so extraordinary is its beauty, so graceful the flow