Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/374

366 could never more obtain sight or intelligence. Almost in despair, he returned to his painting, and to obtain a little money, portrayed the likeness of I know not what Count, then living at Bologna. He afterwards painted a picture of the Yirgin with the Infant Christ, who holds the globe of the earth in his hands: the Madonna in this work has a beautiful expression, and the Infant also is exceedingly natural. It was indeed one of this master’s peculiarities, that he always gave much animation to the faces of his children, not unfrequently depicting them with an expression, which, though truly childlike, yet gives evidence of that acuteness and quickness of perception so frequently observable in children. Our Lady is clothed in a manner that is somewhat peculiar, her dress consisting of a vestment of yellowish gauze or crape, having sleeves which are striped, as it were, with gold; all which has of a truth a very beautiful effect, the form being perceptible through the draperies, which suffer the flesh to be seen in a most natural and delicate manner; the hair also is so finely done that nothing painted could possibly be better.

This picture was executed by Francesco for Messer Pietro of Arezzo, but as the Pope Clement VII. came at that time to Bologna, our artist presented it to his Holiness; yet, however the matter happened I do not know, but it afterwards fell into the hands of Messer Dionigi Gianni, and is now in the possession of Messer Bartolommeo his son, who has proved himself so obliging in respect to it, that fifty copies have been made of this most highly esteemed work. The same master painted a picture for the Nuns of Santa Margareta in Bologna, representing therein the Madonna with Santa Margareta, San Petronio, San Girolamo, and San Michele; this also is held in high estimation, as it well merits to be, seeing that in the expression of the heads, as in all other' parts, it is in every respect equal to the before-mentioned works of this master.