Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/257

Rh other means of accomplishing this desire than hy favour of Tizian himself, he applied to the latter, yet without saying a word of what he had in his mind, begging that he would permit him to enter the presence of his Majesty, in the jdace of one of those who were wont to bear his colours. Tizian was always exceedingly obliging, and as he also liked Alfonso very much, he permitted that artist to accompany him to the apartment of the emperor. Alfonso there chose his place immediately behind Tizian in such a manner that the latter, being deeply intent on his occupation, did not observe what he was doing; and thus taking a small case in his hand, he modelled a portrait of the monarch in a medallion of gypsum and completed his work, exactly at the moment when Tizian had also finished his portrait. The emperor then rising, Alfonso concealed the little case within which was the medallion, and had already slipped it into his sleeve, to the end that Tizian might not perceive it, when his Majesty said to him, “Show what it is that thou hast been doing.” Whereupon he was compelled to place his work humbly in the hand of the sovereign. Charles examined it therefore, and having- highly commended the execution, he inquired, “Wouldst thou have courage to attempt the same in marble?” “Yes, your sacred Majesty,” replied Alfonso. “Do it then,” rejoined the emperor, “and bring me the work to Grenoa.”

How extraordinary all this appeared to Tizian may be easily conceived by every one. For my own part, I cannot but think that he must have felt his own credit compromised by such an occurrence; but what must have appeared to him the most singular part of the story was this, that when the emperor sent the present of a thousand scudi to Tizian, he desired the latter to give five hundred of the same to Alfonso; whereat, whether Tizian felt aggrieved or not, we may all imagine. Alfonso immediately applying himself to his work with the utmost diligence, did, of a truth, execute the marble bust with so much delicacy, that it was acknowledged by every one to be a most admirable work: wherefore, having taken it to the emperor, he received from that monarch an additional three hundred scudi.

The gifts and commendations bestowed on our artist by Charles V. very greatly increased the fame of Alfonso,