Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/217

Rh been done elsewhere of all its beauty. Wherefore, it chanced that one day when the Duke had gone to see the preparations, he commended what had been done, like the judicious person that he was, and acknowledged that Tribolo had most admirably found means to accommodate his arrangements to the site and condition of the church, and had made the most of everything. But one thing he censured, and with some severity, that nothing had been done with respect to the principal chapel namely, and he at once commanded, with prompt and ready determination, as well as infinite judgment, that the entire chapel should be instantly covered with an immense canvas, whereon the Baptism of Christ should be depicted in chiaro-scuro. Vast crowds of people were also to be delineated as standing around and beholding that baptism, or preparing themselves to be baptized in their turn; some divesting themselves of their clothing, and others resuming the vestments that had been laid aside; the whole to exhibit a great variety of attitudes. Above, and at the summit of all, was to be placed a figure of the Almighty Father sending down the Holy Spirit; two river-gods were to be added to the lower part, and were to represent the lor and the Dan, which, by the mingling of their waters, form the river Jordan.

For the execution of this work application was then made to Jacopo Pontormo by Messer Pier-Francesco Riccio, who was then Steward of the household to the Duke, as well as by Tribolo himself, to the intent that he should undertake that painting; but Jacopo would not attempt the task, since the time given for its execution was but six days, and he did not think it possible to complete the work within that time; Ridolfo Ghirlandajo, Bronzino, and many other artists also declining the work for the same reason. At that time Giorgio Vasari, having returned from Bologna, was engaged in the execution of a picture for the Chapel belonging to Messer Bindo Altoviti, in the Church of Sant’ Apostolo in Florence, but he was not held in much consideration, although living on terms of intimacy with Tribolo and Tasso, because a sort of faction had been formed under the favour