Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/169

Rh should rather be described as a thing born, than as one merely built: the exterior decorations are in terretta, and exhibit very beautiful historical representations, executed by Baldassare with his own hand. The hall of this palace is also adorned by this master, who painted columns in perspective therein, the depth of the intercolumniation causing it to appear much larger than it really is. But the most remarkable part of this work, and a subject of deserved admiration, is the Loggia of the garden, wherein Baldassare has painted stories representing Medusa turning men into stone, and than wliich nothing more beautiful could possibly be imagined; near this we have Perseus striking olF the head of the monster, with other paintings in the angles of the ceiling. The decorations of this Loggia are painted in perspective to imitate stucco-work, and this is done so perfectly with the colours, that even experienced artists have taken them to be works in relief. I remember that the Cavalier Tizian, a most excellent and renowned painter, whom I conducted to see these works, could by no means be persuaded that they were painted, and remained in astonishment, when on changing his point of view he perceived that they were so.

In the same palace there are certain paintings executed by J"ra Sebastiano Veneziano, in his first manner; and by the hand of the divine RalFaello there is the Galatea carried off by Marine Deities, as we have before said.

Between the Campo di Fiore and the Piazza Giudea, Baldassare painted a fagade in terretta, which is most exquisitely beautiful, the views in perspective being truly admirable; this he did, receiving a commission to that effect from one of the Pope’s Chamberlains, but the palace is now in the possession of the Florentine Jacopo Strozzi. In the church of the Pace, this master likewise painted a chapel for Messer Ferrando Pozetti, who was afterwards made a Cardinal; this is on the right of the entrance to the church; the subjects chosen are events from the Old Testament, the figures of which are small; but there are besides, other figures, which are of considerable size; the