Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/498

490 it does not to us appear probable that they are really the work of his hand. They are indeed of very inferior execution, resembling his manner neither in the heads, the draperies, nor any other part, and it is believed that they were brought forward after his death, and for the sake of gain, by persons who cared nothing for the injury they were thus inflicting on the fame of Albert. As a further confirmation of the truth of this opinion, it may be remarked that in the year 1511, Albert Dürer executed the entire life of Our Lady in twenty plates of the same size, these being so beautifully done, that, whether we consider the invention, the composition, the perspective, the buildings, or the vestments and heads of old or young, they are all such that it would not be possible to produce anything better. It is indeed certain, that if this man, so highly endowed, so assiduous, and so varied in his powers, had been a native of Tuscany instead of Flanders; had he been in a position which permitted him to study the treasures of Rome, as we are able to do, he would have been the best painter of our country, as he was the best and most renowned that has ever appeared among the Flemings.

During the same year, and in pursuit of the varied fancies perpetually presenting themselves to his thoughts, Albert Dürer attempted to delineate the terrible visions of St. John, as written by that apostle in the Island of Fatmos. The size of this work, which was on fifteen sheets, was the same as that of the life of Our Lady, and having commenced his labours, the vivid force of his imagination, well adapted to the treatment of such a subject, enabled him to exhibit all those circumstances, as well celestial as earthly, to the eyes of the beholder, with so much reality that the performance is a true marvel. The variety of the forms which Albert has imagined for all those animals and monsters, has indeed been a shining light to many of our artists, who have largely