Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/465

Rh painted, their forms having all the tender freshness proper to their youth; the whole work is equally excellent, the figures of two Prophets more particularly, which are highly extolled. This painting is placed in the Nunziata at Florence, beneath the great organ, such being the desire of Salvatore; it is indeed a beautiful thing, and was executed by the monk with infinite love, so that he brought it to a most felicitous conclusion; there is now placed around it a rich decoration, all sculptured in marble, by the hand of Pietro Roselli. After completing this work it became necessary to Fra Bartolommeo to take change of air, and the Prior, who was then his friend, sent him to a monastery of their Order which was situated at a certain distance without the city. While abiding in that place he finally arrived at the wished for power of accompanying the labour of his hands with the uninterrupted contemplation of death. For the church of San Martino in Lucca this master painted a picture of the Madonna, with an angel playing on a lute at her feet; San Stefano stands on one side of the Virgin, and San Giovanni on the other; the work is a good one, whether as regards design or colouring, and afibrds full proof of the master’s ability. In the church of San Romano also there is a picture by Fra Bartolommeo, the Madonna della Misericordia namely, the painting is on canvas, and is placed on a projection of stone, angels support her mantle, and around her is a concourse of people scattered over a flight of steps, some seated, others standing, but all with their looks turned earnestly towards a figure of Christ appearing in the heavens, and showering down lightnings and thunder-bolts upon the people. In this picture Fra Bartolommeo has given