Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/431

Rh perch itself thereon, and falling to the ground, since he could not find a resting place on the painted surface, he twice returned to make the same attempt, seeking each time to place himself on the wrist of the painted child, exactly as if it had been one of those living children which were accustomed to be constantly holding it on their hands. Amazed at what they beheld, those nobles would fain have bought the picture from Benedetto, offering him a very great price for the same, but it was not possible by any means to make him relinquish it. Some time afterwards a plan was laid by the same persons to rob him of the picture, and this was to be accomplished on occasion of the festival of San Biagio, which was held in the church of San Nazzaro, but the owner, having received information of the design, took care to render it unsuccessful.

For the church of San Paolo at Verona, Francesco painted a picture in water-colours which is exceedingly beautiful, and another which is no less beautiful for the chapel of the Bandi family in the church of San Bernardino. While at Mantua he painted a picture to be sent to Verona, and this is in that chapel of the church of San ISazzaro which belongs to' the Black Friars, and wherein are deposited the remains of San Biagio. The work presents two singularly beautiful nude figures, and the Madonna seen in the clouds above with the Divine Child in her arms; she is accompanied by Angels, which are admirable figures.

Francesco was a man of holy life, and the enemy of every vice; he would never paint subjects of a licentious character, and refused such as he could not approve when proposed to him by the Marcjiese; his brothers were equally excellent with himself, as will be related in the proper place. Finally, having become old and suffering from internal disease, Francesco, by the advice of the physicians and with the permission of the marquis, repaired to the baths of Caldero in