Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/148

140 painted in oil betrayed more striking evidences of age, than did those of Fra Giovanni, Fra Filippo, Benozzo, and the other artists whose works in tempera were executed at an earlier period. He therefore determined to paint a picture, which he was commissioned to execute by the Brotherhood of San Bernardino for their chapel on the Piazza di San Francesco, in tempera, and admirably well he completed it in that manner accordingly. The Predella also is in tempera, and is very beautiful: the subjects depicted thereon are San Francesco receiving the Stigmata; Sant’Antonio of Padua, who, for the purpose of converting certain heretics, performs the miracle of the Ass, which makes its obeisance to the sacred Host; and San Bernardino of Siena, who is preaching to the people of his native city, on the Piazza of Siena. Domenico painted two stories in fresco on the walls of the same chapel: the subjects chosen being from the life of Our Lady; this he did in competition with Glovan-Antonio Bazzi, who had painted several pictures in the same place. One of these frescoes exhibits the Visitation of Our Lady to Sant’ Elizabetta, and in the other is the Assumption of the Virgin, who is surrounded by the Apostles. These pictures are both very highly extolled.

At length, and after having been ong expected in Genoa by Prince Doria, Domenico determined on repairing to that city, but with much reluctance, being a man who was accustomed to a life of quiet, and contented himself with possessing what his necessities demanded, without requiring more; Domenico was besides but little accustomed to travelling; he had built himself a small house in Siena, and at about a mile from the city, outside the Gate of Camollia, he had a vineyard, which he had cultivated for his amusement after his own fashion: to this place he resorted often, but beyond that it was now a long time since he had left Siena.

Arrived in Genoa, Domenico painted a picture near that by Pordenone, and acquitted himself very well, but not in such a manner as to entitle this work to be numbered among his best. The mode of proceeding in the court of Genoa did not please him; accustomed to a life of freedom, he could