Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/21

Rh place, had written to the latter, informing him that he had prevailed with the Pope to entrust certain rooms which the Pontiff had caused to be built in the Vatican to his care, and that therein he might give evidence of his ability. The proposal gratified Raphael, and he left his works in Florence unfinished, the picture for the Dei family among the rest, but this last was in such a state that Messer Baldassare da Pescia afterwards, on the death of Raphael that is to say, caused it to be placed in the chapter-house of his native city. The master then proceeded to Rome, where he found on his arrival, that a large part of the rooms in the palace had already been painted, or were in process of being painted, by difierent masters. In one of these apartments, for example, there was an historical picture completed by Piero della Francesca; Luca da Cortona had made considerable progress in the painting of one side of another; Don Pietro della Gatta, abbot of San Clemente in Arezzo, had also commenced certain works in the same place, and Bramantino of Milan had painted numerous figures there, the greater part of which were portraits from the life, which were considered to be exceedingly beautiful. On his arrival in Romy Raphael was received with much kindness by Pope Julius, and commenced a picture in the chamber of the vSegnatura, the subject of which is. Theologians engaged in the reconciliation of Philosophy and Astrology with Theology. In this work are depicted all the sages of the world, arranged in different groups, and occupied with various