Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/536

528 mona, were in the choir of the church of Sant’ Agata, where he depicted four large stories from the life of that Virgin Martyr; and these were of such merit that a practised master would perhaps scarcely have done them better. At a later period our artist painted some pictures in Santa Margarita, and decorated the façades of numerous palaces in chiaro-scuro; these works giving proof of very good design. For the church of San Gismondo, which is situate outside of Cremona, Guilio Campi painted the picture of the High Altar in oil; and this is much extolled for the multitude and diversity of the figures delineated therein, seeing that these may well bear comparison with those of the painters who had worked before him in that church. Having painted the altar-piece, he executed numerous frescoes in the vaulting, one of which may more particularly be specified. This represents the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, whose figures appear foreshortened as seen from below, and are managed with infinite grace, while they give proof of much judgment in art.

At Milan, also, in the church of the Passion, which belongs to the monastery of the Canons Regular, the same artist painted a Crucifixion in oil. This is on panel: over all are seen the figures of Angels, and beneath, are the Madonna, San Giovanni Evangelista, Santa Maria Maddalena, and the other Maries. For the nuns of San Paolo, who have also a convent at Milan, Giulio Campi executed four pictures, representing the Conversion and other events in the life of the above-named Saint; a work in which he was assisted by his brother Antonio, who also painted one of the chapels in a new church which had been erected after the design of Lombardino, at the convent of Santa Caterina,