Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/76

68 those conversant in that art, and acquired for the artists good name and fame, no less than the advantages of gain.

But Maestro Claudio being very immoderate in eating and drinking, as is the custom of his nation, a practice which is an exceedingly dangerous one in the air of Rome, fell sick of a fever, and this became so violent, that in six days he departed to another life., Guglielmo was then left alone, and being deprived of his companion was almost as one lost. He painted a window nevertheless some time afterwards entirely by himself in Santa Maria dell’ Anima, the Church of the Germans in Rome: this work, also in glass, caused Silvio, Cardinal of Cortona, to make him advantageous offers, and to enter into an agreement with him to the effect that he should execute certain windows and other works in his native city of Cortona, whither the cardinal conducted him accordingly, that he might abide therein. The first work undertaken in Cortona by Guglielmo, was that part of the Cardinal’s palace which is turned towards the Piazza, and which the artist painted in chiaro-scuro, representing thereon the figure of Croton, with those of the other founders of that city. This being completed, the Cardinal, who perceived that Guglielmo was no less excellent as a man than distinguished as a master in art, then caused him to construct the window of the principal chapel in the capitular residence of Cortona, where the artist painted the Birth of Christ, with the Adoration of the Magi. Guglielmo was a man of an active mind and great intelligence, he had much experience and singular facility in the management of painting on glass, disposing the colours, to speak more particularly, in such sort, that the brightest were always given to the most prominent figures, while the darkest tints were used in duly graduated proportions for those receding into the distance, a point wherein his practice was truly excellent. He displayed much judgment also in the painting of his figures, which he treated with great care, observing all due relations, and causing each to advance or