Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/534

526 from the power they have thus secured of examining the various modes of proceeding in use among the Italians, while the Italians have, in like manner, been enabled to become acquainted with the works of strangers and those from beyond the mountains. And for this we are principally indebted to Marcantonio of Bologna, for besides that he contributed, as we have related, to the extent that has been here described, to the first beginning of this vocation, there has not as yet been any master who has greatly surpassed him, even though some have in certain points attained to equal eminence with himself, and have displayed a similar proficiency.

This master died in Bologna, not many years after his departure from Rome. We have certain designs from his hand in our book, some of these are Angels executed with the pen; and there are besides several very beautiful copies by his hand from the decorations of the papal apartments depicted by Raffaello of Urbino. Marcantonio was indeed himself delineated in those chambers while yet a youth, and by the hand of Raphael, his likeness is in the head of one of those grooms by whom Pope Julius II. is borne along in that part of the picture which represents Onias the Priest in the act of prayer.

And this shall be the end of the life of the Bolognese Marcantonio, and of the other above-mentioned engravers of prints, of whom I have been induced to make this long but needful discourse, to the end that I may satisfy not only the students of our arts, but all those likewise who take pleasure in these matters.