Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/508

500 design, and the care of Marcantonio’s engraving being all combined, that it was not possible to imagine the prodnctiori of anything finer. Marcantonio soon afterwards engraved an exceedingly beautiful Deposition from the Cross, after the design of the same master, with a figure of Our Lady in a swoon, which is most admirable; and this was followed by an engraving of the picture of Christ bearing his Cross, which was sent to Palermo, a plate which is also very beautiful, as was that of another design by Eaphael, the subject whereof was our Saviour Christ appearing in the air, with the Madonna, St. John the Baptist, and St. Catharine kneeling on the earth, while St. Paul the apostle stands upright near them; a large plate, which like those previously described, having been very much used, had become almost worn out and spoiled, when it was carried away, together with those above-named, by the Germans or others in the plunder of Rome.

Marcantonio likewise engraved the portrait of Pope Clement VII. in the form of a medallion, the face is in profile with shaven head: he afterwards executed that of the Emperor Charles V. who was then very young, and whom he portrayed once again when he had attained to a morb advanced age. In Rome he also engraved the portrait from the life of the famous poet Messer Pietro Aretino, and this was the finest portrait ever executed by Marcantonio. No long time after having finished the likeness of the poet, he executed heads of the twelve Caesars after ancient medals, and of these plates Raffaello sent copies into Flanders to Albert Dürer, by whom Marcantonio was highly commended, and who sent to Raffaello in return his own portrait, among many other works, a likeness which was reputed to be of the most perfect beauty.

The fame of Marcantonio having become widely extended, and his works having acquired great value, many disciples had resorted to him for the purpose of learning his art, but