Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/537

Rh near the Porta Ticinese. The subject of this work is Sant’ Elena causing the Holy Cross of Christ to be sought for; and the picture is a very good work.

Vincenzio, also, the third of these brothers, having acquired his art from Giulio the eldest brother, as did also Antonio the second, is now a young artist, of whom there are the Arery fairest expectations. And not only have these, his two brothers, been disciples of Giulio Campi, but so has also the Brescian Lattanzio Gambara, with many others. Those from whom he has nevertheless received the highest honour, and who have proved themselves most excellent in art, are the paintress Sophonisba Anguisciola and her three sisters, all of whom have been his disciples. These richly gifted maidens were born to the Signor Amilcar Anguisciola, and to the Signora Bianca Punzona, both of whom belong to the noblest families in Cremona.

But with respect to the above-named Sophonisba, of whom we spoke some few words in the Life of the Bolognese sculptress, Madonna Properzia de’ Rossi, not knowing any thing more at that time, * I have now to relate that I have this year seen a picture by her hand in the house of her father at Cremona. The subject of this work, which is very carefully treated, is a family group, the three sisters of the paintress namely playing at Chess, with an old woman belonging to the family; these figures are executed with so much boldness and freedom that they appear to be truly alive, and seem to want nothing but the power of speech. In another picture by this same Sophonisba, is a portrait of her father the Signor Amilcar, who has one of his daughters on one side of him, a lady called Minerva, and who was much distinguished in letters as well as in painting; on the other side of the Signor Amilcar is Asdrubal his son, and the brother of Sophonisba; these figures likewise are so well done that they seem to breathe, and are indeed most life-like.