Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/390

382 figures of one braccio high, or less, around the choir, and above the seats of the officiating priests. In one of these he depicted the Birth of Christ; in another, the Adoration of the Magi; the Presentation to Simeon occupies a third; and following this, is the Saviour Baptized by John in the Jordan. The Woman taken in Adultery, and led before Christ, is also among these pictures, which are executed in a very graceful manner. Two other stories which Lorenzo likewise painted in this place exhibit a large number of figures; one of these represents David offering Sacnfice; the other exhibits the Archangel Michael in Combat with Lucifer, whom he has driven out of heaven.

No long time had elapsed after the completion of these stories, before Lorenzo died, as he had lived, in the manner of an upright man and good Christian, resigning his soul to the hands of God his Maker. The last years of his life were passed in the utmost peace and tranquillity of mind, nay, what is more, he was by them, as is to be hoped and believed, enabled to obtain the riches of the life eternal, which might possibly not have been secured to him had he remained to the close of his days exclusively wrapt up in the concerns of the world, which rest too heavily on him who makes them his sole thought, since they do not permit the soul to rise towards the true wealth of the future life, and .that which is to constitute our highest felicity and blessedness.

At this same period there also flourished in Bomagna an excellent painter called Rondinello, of whom we have already made some slight mention in the life of Giovanni Bellini, whose disciple he had been, and who had availed himself to a considerable extent of the services of Rondinello in his various wmrks. After Rondinello had left Giovan Bellini, he continued to practise his art, and that in such a manner, that, being exceedingly diligent, he produced numerous works which are highly deserving of and have obtained considerable praise. Of this we have an instance