Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/324

316 picture the artist depicted Moors, Gypsies, and the most singular things in the world, insomuch that with the exception of the figures, which are perfect, he may be truly said to have considered any thing in this composition but the wish of those who had ordered the work. While occupied therewith. Rosso disinterred dead bodies from the burial ground of the Episcopal palace, in which he had his abode, and made very fine anatomical studies: this master was of a truth very zealous in the study of all things appertaining to his art, and few days passed wherein he did not paint some nude figure from the life.

Rosso had always expressed a desire to end his days in France, in order to deliver himself, as he said, from a certain poverty and need of condition to which those men are so frequently subjected who pass their lives labouring in Tuscany, or in whatsoever country it may be wherein they were born. He therefore determined to depart, and with this end in view he had even studied the Latin tongue, hoping thereby to appear more competent in all matters, and to obtain the reputation of more extended acquirements. Now it so chanced that an occurrence took place whereby he was induced to hasten his departure, and that happened on this wise. Having gone with one of his disciples on the evening of Holy Thursday to be present at the ceremonies in a church some short distance out of Arezzo, the boy made a shower of sparks and flame with a lighted match and some tar, at the very moment when what is called “the darkness” was in course of proceeding. Thereupon certain priests reproached and even struck the child, which Rosso, who had the boy seated beside him, perceiving, started up in great anger with the priests. An uproar ensuing, and no one knowing how the disturbance had arisen, swords were drawn on poor Rosso, who was seen to be in strife with the ecclesiastics, and he was compelled to take flight. It is true that he gained his own rooms in safety, and without being injured or even overtaken by any one; but he nevertheless considered himself to have been affronted, and having finished the picture which he was then working at for the people of Castello, he set off in the night