Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/405

Rh much grace in their cheerfulness of aspect, that they prove Liberale to have possessed the power of rendering smiles quite as well as the tears which he has exhibited in the before-mentioned pictures. For the altar-piece of this chapel, our artist depicted Santa Maria Maddalena in the heavens, supported by Angels, with Santa Caterina beneath; a work which has been considered very fine. In the church of Santa Maria della Scala, which belongs to the Servite Monks, Liberale painted an Adoration of the Magi, for the altar of the Madonna. The story is depicted on two folding doors, and these serve to close up that Madonna, which is held in the highest veneration throughout Verona; but this work had not been long there before it was found to be injured by the smoke of the candles; the doors were therefore taken away and placed in the sacristy, where the painting continues to remain an object of much admiration to the Veronese artists.

In the central aisle of the church of San Bernardino, and over the chapel which belongs to the Brotherhood of the Magdalene, Liberale painted the story of the Purification. The figure of Simeon in this work has received much commendation, as has that of the Infant Christ, whom the old man, holding in his arms, embraces with great affection. A priest who is standing on one side of the picture is also very beautiful; he lifts his face to heaven, and spreading forth his arms, appears to be returning thanks to God for the salvation of the world. Beside this chapel, and by the hand of the same master, is the Adoration of the Magi, with the death of the Madonna above it, in small figures, which have been much extolled. And, of a truth, Liberale took so much pleasure in the execution of small figures, and always finished them with so much care, that they seem to be depicted in miniature, as may be seen in the cathedral of that city, where, in a picture by his hand, there is a story of the Magi, with an immense number of small figures, horses, dogs, and other animals of various kinds. There is also a’group of Cherubim, of a roseate tint, which serve as the support of the Madonna. In this work, the heads are finished in such