Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/363

Rh in Ascoli, in Calabria, and at Norcia, all of which are worthy of notice. They acquired for him the reputation of being an excellent master, nay, one of the best that had ever been seen in those parts. This artist gave his attention to architecture also, and such buildings as were erected at Ascoli, or in the whole of that neighbourhood during his time, were constructed by him. He never gave himself the trouble of proceeding to Rome, but remained constantly at Ascoli, without visiting other countries or changing his abode. He was living there happily with his wife, who was of a good and honourable family, and was besides endowed with singular excellence and elevation of character, when the factions rose into strife at Ascoli, and all things were thrown into confusion. This happened during the Pontificate of Paul III.; and among those who fled was Cola d’Amatrice, who departed with his wife, but was pursued by the soldiery, and more on her account, she being a beautiful young woman, than for any other reason. Perceiving this, and convinced that she had no hope of saving her own honour and the life of her husband, she resolved to cast herself from the high cliff on which they stood, and threw herself accordingly into the abyss beneath. The men who were pursuing them seeing what had happened, and feeling sure that she must be not only killed by the fall, as was the case, but dashed to pieces, refrained from doing her husband any further injury, and leaving him, returned into Ascoli.

Having thus lost a wife of such merit, and worthy indeed of eternal commendation. Cola d’Amatrice passed the remainder of his life with but little enjoyment. No long time after this unhappy event, the Signor Alessandro Vitelli, who had rendered himself master of Matrice, took Maestro Cola, who was becoming old, to Citta di Casteilo, where he caused him to paint numerous frescoes in his palace, with many