Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/55

Rh honourable reward for it from the king. This master also painted the portrait of Beatrice of Ferrara, with those of other ladies; that of his own inamorata is more particularly to be specified, but he also executed many others. He was much disposed to the gentler affections and delighted in the society of woman, for whom he was ever ready to perform acts of service. But he also permitted himself to be devoted somewhat too earnestly to the pleasures of life, and in this respect was perhaps more than duly considered and indulged by his friends and admirers. We find it related that his intimate friend Agostino Chigi had commissioned him to paint the first floor of his palace, but Raphael was at that time so much occupied with the love which he bore to the lady of his choice, that he could not give sufficient attention to the work. Agostino therefore, falling at length into despair of seeing it finished, made so many efforts by means of friends and by his own care, that after much difficulty he at length prevailed on the lady to take up her abode in his house, where she was accordingly installed in apartments near those which Raphael was painting; in this manner the work was ultimately brought to a conclusion.

For these pictures Raphael prepared all the cartoons, painting many of the figures also with his own hand in fresco. On the ceiling he represented the council of the Gods in heaven, and in the forms of these deities many of the outlines and lineaments may be perceived to be from the antique, as are various portions of the draperies and vestments, the