Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/88

80 Rome mentioned, than he was instantly moved to a great degree, but told Vaga that he must speak respecting the matter with Andrea de’ Ceri, who had been his aid and support to that time, and whom he would not leave without first having obtained his consent. Ultimately, Vaga found means to prevail on Ridolfo, Perino’s master, as well as on Andrea de’ Ceri, with whom the youth still had his abode, to permit his departure, when the latter, with a companion whom Vaga had also engaged, set off with him to Toscanella. Here they all began to work, and not only completed the undertaking with which Vaga was then occupied, but also many others, which he commenced afterwards. But the promises, with which Perino had been allured into the Roman states, not being fulfilled; the advantage and profit which Vaga derived from the services of Perino, causing him to defer the expected visit to Rome; the youth determined to proceed thither alone, whereupon Vaga left all his works unfinished, and himself conducted the young artist to that city. Arrived in Rome, Perino returned, with all his wonted love of art, to his drawing, and after having been thus occupied for many weeks, the zeal with which he devoted himself thereto seemed daily to become more fervid; but Vaga was anxious to return to Toscanella, and therefore made Perino known to many of the ordinary painters, recommending him, as one belonging to himself, to the kindness and good offices of all the friends that he had in Rome, whom he entreated to assist and favour the youth in his absence; from this circumstance he was ever afterwards called Perino del Vaga.

Thus left in Rome, and beholding the ancient works in sculpture, and the most admirable structure of the buildings, now for the most part in ruins, he stood lost in astonishment at the power and greatness of those exalted and illustrious men by whom such works had been performed, and his love of art becoming ever more and more inflamed, he was perpetually glowing with the desire of attaining in some manner to a certain vicinity with those noble masters, and in his turn to win a name for himself as well as do service to the world by means of his works, as had been done by the men who had awakened so profound a sense of admiration within him, as he gazed on their beautiful productions. But while he