Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/230

222 newly-born babe towards the bed wherein is St. Elizabeth, and which is also very beautiful: the same may be said of Zachariah, who is writing on a piece of paper, which he has placed on his knee and is holding with one hand, while he inscribes the name of his son with the other; all which is done so naturally, that the figure seems to want nothing but the breath itself. Nor less admirable is the figure of an old woman, who is seated on a slightly elevated stool; she is smiling at the parturition of a mother already so far advanced in life as is St. Elizabeth; her attitude and expression exhibiting precisely such an appearance as would be made in actual life on the occurence of a similar event.

Having finished this work, which is certainly worthy of all praise, Andrea del Sarto painted a picture for the General of Vallombrosa, depicting therein four singularly beautiful figures, San Giovanni Battista namely, San Giovanni Gualberto, founder of the order, San Michele the archangel, and the Cardinal San Bernardo, who was a monk of their order; in the midst of these are certain children, which could not be more life-like nor more beautiful than they are. This picture is now at Vallombrosa, on the summit of a rocky mountain, whereon certain of the monks, separated from the rest, have made their abode in solitary dwellings or cells, almost after the manner of hermits.

From Giuliano Scala, Andrea received a commission to paint a picture, which was destined to be sent to Serrazzana. The subject was a Virgin seated, with the Infant Christ in her arms, and two other figures in half-length, San Celso and Santa Giulia namely: Sant’ Onofrio, Santa Caterina, San Benedetto, Sant’ Anthony of Padua, San Piero,