Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/248

240 gave her a portion of the work, wherein she produced a most admirable representation, to the delight and astonishment of all Bologna. The subject chosen was the Wife of Pharaoh’s Steward, who, having become enamoured of his servant Joseph, and falling into despair at the repulse received from him, is seeking to detain him by taking hold of his garment, an action to which the Sculptress has given a feminine gracefulness of inexpressible beauty; it is indeed reported that the unhappy woman was herself at that time in love with a very handsome young man, who seems to have cared but little for her, and she is supposed to have expressed her own feelings in this story of the Old Testament, which gave her great satisfaction, and was considered by all to be singularly beautiful.

But Properzia would never execute any other work for that building, seeing that although entreated by many persons to continue her labours therein, yet being constantly discouraged by Maestro Amico, who was not among those by whom she was requested to persevere, but who spoke ill of her on the contrary to the Superintendents; she would, as I have said, work no more for that edifice; and so powerful was the malignity with which she was assailed, that the wardens would pay her but a very wretched price for her labours. It is true that there are two angels of most beautiful proportions, and in fine relief, by the hand of Properzia, which are still to be seen in San Petronio, but these were done entirely against her will. She ultimately devoted her attention to copper-plate engraving, wherein she succeeded to