Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/328

320 be seen; above all these, and over the windows, is a frieze, entirely covered with ornaments in stucco, and very rich, but without paintings.

In other chambers, ante-rooms, and apartments of various character in the same palace, there are many other works of this master, paintings as well as stuccoes: some of these have been copied, and others are made known to distant countries by means of copper-plates. They are very graceful and beautiful, as are also an infinity of designs made by liosso for salt-cellars, vases, basins, and other fancies which the king afterwards caused to be executed, all in silver, and of which there were such vast numbers that it would take too much time even to make mention of all: wherefore, let it suffice to say that this artist made designs for all the vessels appertaining to the side-table or beaufet of a king, and for all such matters. For the decoration of horse furniture moreover, for masquerades and triumphal processions, with every other kind of thing that could be imagined. Rosso likewise prepared designs, evincing so singular and varied a power of fancy in all, that it would not be possible to do better.

In the year 1540, when the Emperor Charles V. repaired to France, under the safeguard of King Francis, and visited Fontainebleau, with a retinue consisting of no more than twelve persons, the half of the decorations which the French monarch caused to be prepared for the due and honourable I'eception of so great an emperor was confided to the care of Rosso, the other half being undertaken by the Bologn6se, Francesco Primaticcio. The constructions thereupon executed by Rosso in arches, colossal statues, and other works of similar character, were the most astonishing, according to what was said at the time, and the most stupendous that ever had been exhibited up to that period. But the greater number of the apartments which this master decorated at Fontainebleau were altered, and the works he had executed in them destroyed after his death, by the above-named Francesco Primaticcio, who has replaced them by new and larger fabrics.