Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/339

Rh occasionally retouch some few parts where it seemed to be required.

That chapel, which cannot be considered otherwise than a grand and praiseworthy and very well executed performance, the great variety of the objects there depicted being taken into account,—that chapel, I say, being completed, the two artists returned to Florence, which they reached in the month of January, 1555, and where they instantly began to paint the Hall of the Elements. While Vasari employed himself on the ceiling, Cristofano executed escutcheons of arms, which serve to connect and support the uppermost frieze, depicting therein heads of Unicorns and Tortoises, which are devices of his Excellency.

But the part in which Cristofano distinguished himself most remarkably, and was indeed truly wonderful, were certain garlands and festoons of fruits which decorate the lower side of the beams, and which are so beautiful that any thing more exquisite, more natural, or more perfectly coloured could not possibly be imagined; and the beauty of this frieze is furthermore increased by the masks which Doceno has mingled with the festoons, the ligatures of the garlands being held in the mouths of these masks. Nay, for this kind of work it may be safely affirmed that Cristofano was superior to any of those artists who have made this department their especial vocation.

Doceno furthermore depicted on the wall whereon is the Birth of Venus, certain large figures which he painted after the cartoons of Vasari, and a landscape also with numerous figures of very small size, but which were admirably executed. On that side, moreover, wherein is the story of the Loves, represented as little children preparing the arrows of Cupid, Cristofano also painted figures, the Cyclops namely, who are forging the thunderbolts of Jupiter.

Over six of the doors he furthermore executed six large ovals, the ornaments in chiaro-scuro, and the ovals themselves containing stories in bronze colour, which are very beautiful. In the same hall Cristofano then painted figures of Mercury and Pluto which he placed between the windows and which are also exceedingly fine.