Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/217

Rh which adorns the Madonna; she is surrounded by a choir of Angels, while others support and bear her onward with .singular grace of action. In the upper part of the picture is the portrait of Andrea himself, among the apostles; and this is drawn with such truth and nature, that it appears to be rather a living being than a mere painting. This picture is now in a villa belonging to the Baroncelli family, situate at a short distance from Florence, and in a small building close to the villa, which was erected to receive it by Piero Salviati.

At the upper part of the kitchen-garden which belongs to the Servite Monks, and in two angles of the wall, are two stories by Andrea, representing the Vineyard of Christ; showing it first, that is to say, when he is planting, binding, and training the vines, the husbandman appearing and summoning those to the labour who are standing idle around. Among the latter is one who, being asked if he also will take part in the work, has seated himself, and rubbing his hands, appears to be considering whether he should enter among those labourers or not, exactly in the way that those idle people do who have but little mind to work. The second of these pictures is much more beautiful. It represents the husbandman causing each labourer to receive his appointed hire, while those who are dissatisfied murmur and bemoan themselves. Among these labourers, one, who is counting his money apart, and seems deeply intent on examining the sum assigned to him, is a most life-like figure, as is the Steward from whom the labourers are receiving their hire. Both these pictures are in chiaro-scuro, and the fresco painting gives proof of extraordinary skill. Andrea afterwards painted a Pieta in a recess on the summit of a staircase in the Noviciate of the same Convent;