Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/389

Rh pictures of small figures. These are works of rare excellence; the central compartment exhibits the church of Santa Maria di Loretto, carried by Angels from Sclavonia, where it then was, to the place where it now stands; and of the two stories which are on each side of this, the one represents San Domenico preaching, the small figures composing it being the most graceful that can be imagined: and the other Pope Honorius confirming the rule of San Domenico.

In the centre of the same church there is a fresco by this master, presenting a figure of the Monk, St. Vincent; and in the church of Santa Maria de Castel Nuovo there is a picture in oil, representing the Transfiguration of Christ, and having three stories, in small figures, on the predella. These last exhibit the Saviour, first, when he is leading the apostles to Mount Tabor; second, when he is praying in the garden; and finally, as he ascends into heaven. After the completion of these works, it chanced that Lorenzo repaired to Ancona, and that precisely at the time when Mariano of Perugia had just completed the picture for the high altar, in the church of Sant’ Agostino; this was surrounded by a rich decoration, or frame work, but did not fully satisfy the citizens. Lorenzo was therefore commissioned to paint a picture, which is placed in the middle of the same church; the subject of the work is Our Lady with the Divine Child in her lap; over her head hover two angels, whose figures are foreshortened, and who place a crown on the head of the Virgin.

Finally, when Lorenzo had become quite old, and had almost entirely lost his voice, he left Ancona, but not before he had executed other works, though not of any great importance, in that city; he then departed to Our Lady of Loretto, where he had already painted a picture in oil, which is in a chapel on the right of the entrance into the church, and there resolved to finish his life in the service of the Madonna, making his habitation in that holy house. Thereupon he