Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/54

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The architectural designs for the Vigna of the Pope and for several houses in the Borgo, but more particularly for the palace of Messer Giovanni Battista dall’ Aquila, which was a very beautiful edifice, were likewise prepared by Raphael. He also designed one for the Bishop of Troia, who caused him to construct it in the Via di San Gallo at Florence.

For the Black Friars of San Sisto in Piacenza, Raphael painted a picture, intended to form the altar-piece for the high altar of their churchy the subject of this work is the Virgin with St. Sixtus and Santa Barbara, a truly admirable production. Raphael painted many pictures to be sent into France, but more particularly one for the king, St. Michael namely, in combat with the Arch-fiend; this also is considered singularly beautiful, a rock, whence flames are issuing, represents the centre of the earth, and from the clefts of this rock fires and sulphurous flames are proceeding, while Lucifer, whose limbs, scorched and burning, are depicted of various tints, exhibits every emotion of rage that pride, envenomed and inflated, can awaken against the Oppressor of his greatness, by whom he is deprived of his kingdom, and at whose hands he may never hope for peace, but is certain to receive heavy and perpetually enduring punishment. In direct contrast with this figure is that of the Archangel San Michele; his countenance is adorned with celestial beauty, he wears armour formed of iron and gold, fearlessness, force, and terror are in his aspect, he has cast Lucifer to the earth, and compels him to lie prone beneath his uplifted spear; the work was performed in so admirable a manner at all points, that Raphael obtained, as he had well merited, a large and