Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/122

114 figure of the Magdalen, also by this master: she is standing upright, her vestment is a short mantle, but the figure is covered principally with the long hair, which falls to her feet; and this is so beautiful and natural, that, while observing it, one cannot but fancy that the light silky tresses are stirred by the wind. The countenance, also, has the most divine beauty of expression, and clearly exhibits the love which this Saint bore to her Lord.

In the church of Sant’ Agatha, likewise, there is a picture by the hand of Timoteo, with exceedingly well-executed figures. And in the church of San Bernardino, which is situate without the city of Urbino, there is a work by our artist which has ever been highly and deservedly commended. This is on the right hand of him who enters the building, and at the altar of the Bonaventuri, a noble family of that city, the subject is an Annunciation, and the Virgin, who stands upright with folded hands, and with her head and eyes raised towards heaven, is depicted with the most exquisite grace. Over this figure, and in the air, there is the Divine Child portrayed in the centre of a broad blaze of light; his foot is on the Holy Spirit in the form of a Dove; in his left hand is a globe, to signify his dominion over the world; and his right is in the act of benediction. On the right side of the Child is an Angel, who is pointing him out to the Madonna with his finger. On the lower plane, on the level of the Madonna that is to say, stands the Baptist; he is on the right hand, and is clothed in a garment of camels’ hair, which is torn, to the end that the nude figure may be seen. To the left of the Virgin is San Sebastiano, entirely undraped and bound to a tree. The attitude of this figure is exceedingly beautiful, it could not possibly have more relief than the master has here given, nor could any figure be depicted with more beauty in all its parts.