Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/210

202 he could effect in the art of painting. At the siege of Florence, the beauty of these pictures caused Giovanni Battista della Palla to attempt their removal from the places wherein they were fixed, for the purpose of sending them to the King of France, but they were found to be so firmly fastened, that they could not be stirred without the destruction of the whole work, they were consequently suffered to remain, as was also a figure of Our Lady, which is held to be one of extraordinary beauty.

Shortly after having completed this undertaking, Andrea del Sarto painted a Head of Christ, which is now preserved by the Servite monks on the altar of the Annunciation; and this is so beautiful, that for my part I do not know whether the human imagination could possibly conceive any more admirable representation of the head of the Redeemer. In the Chapels of the church of San Gallo which is situate beyond the city gate; there were many other pictures besides the two painted by Andrea, but none of which were equal to those by his hand, wherefore as there was another about to be executed in the church, the monks induced the owner of the chapel wherein it was to be painted, to entrust the commission for the same to our artist. He commenced the work accordingly without delay, depicting therein four figures standing upright and holding a disputation respecting the Trinity; one of these represents Sant’ Agostino arrayed in the episcopal robes and with features of a character which is truly African; he is moving with impetuous action towards St. Peter the Martyr, who holds an open book aloft with earnest and haughty gestures; the head and figure of the latter have been much extolled. Near San Pietro stands San Francesco, who also bears a book with one hand, while, with the other pressed to his bosom, he seems to be pouring from his lips with the most fervid eloquence, his own impressions in regard to the subject of dispute, appearing to be