Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/376

368 place, and acquired much experience in art, but no increase of riches, although he had made many friends, Francesco at length returned to Parma, in compliance with the entreaties of many among his relations and acquaintance in that city. He had no sooner arrived there than he received a commission for the painting in fresco of a large vaulting in the church of Santa Maria della Steccata, but as there was an arch presenting a level surface at the commencement of this vaulting, and forming a sort of fa9ade around the whole space, Francesco determined to begin with this portion of the work, as being that which presented the least difficulty; he therefore painted six figures thereon, two coloured and four in chiaro-scuro, all of which are very beautiful. Between these figures he furthermore delineated numerous ornaments of very graceful character surrounded by rosettes in relief, which he took it into his head to execute himself in copper and with the utmost labour.

At the same time, he undertook a picture for the Cavaliere Baiardo, a gentleman of Parma, who was one of his intimate friends. This is a Cupid, occupied in preparing himself a bow: at his feet are two boys seated, the one is taking the other by an arm, and laughingly endeavours to make him touch Cupid with his finger; but he who is thus exhorted, refuses and weeps, as one who fears to be scorched by the fires of Love. This picture, the invention of which is most ingenious, the colouring most charming, and the whole distinguished by the grace of manner for which Francesco was remarkable, is now in the study of Messer Antonio Cavalca, heir to the Cavaliere Baiardo, having descended to him from the latter, together with many drawings by the same artist which the Cavaliere had collected. Of these there are many very beautiful and finely finished in every particular, also by the hand of Francesco, in many leaves of our book; more particularly one of the Decapitation of San Pietro and San Paolo, which