Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/90

82 was perhaps more profoundly conversant with the difficulties presented by the nude form,than many who were at that time accounted among the best masters; nay, at length he began to be known for what he was, not only to the men of his own profession, but to many prelates and nobles also. It chanced moreover, that Giulio Romano and Giovan Francesco, called Il Fattore, the disciples of Raffaello da Urbino, extolled him not a little to their master, inspiring the latter with a wish to become acquainted with Perino, and to see his works in design, when having done so, he was greatly pleased, and not only with his productions but with his character, deportment, and mode of life, predicting that, among the many aspirants to distinction whom he had known, this would be the one who would attain to the highest perfection in art.

The papal Loggie, the construction of which had been commanded by Pope Leo X., had meanwhile been completed by Raphael of Urbino, and by the same Pontiff it was furthermore commanded that Raphael should cause that fabric to be decorated with stucco-work, as well as painted and gilded, as it should seem best to his judgment. Giovanni da Udine was therefore appointed chief of the work by Raphael, for the grottesche and stuccoes that is to say, Giovanni being most distinguished, nay, unique in these operations, but principally as respected animals, fruits, and other minute portions of the work. There had likewise been collected from distant parts, as well as chosen from among the artists in Rome, a large number of the most able masters, insomuch that there was a company of eminent men assembled, some working in stucco, some remarkable for the execution of grottesche, others for historical representations, some for foliage, or festoons, or other matters, but all distinguished for excellence in one department or another.

As each of the persons thus employed made progress and improved, so was he brought forward by the master, and obtained increased remuneration; a mode of proceeding by which there was so much emulation awakened among the younger artists, that by means of this work many of them were brought to a high degree of perfection, and afterwards became truly excellent in their various departments. In this company Perino, among others, was consigned by Raphael to Giovanni da Udine, for the purpose of painting stories and