Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/150

138 dows looking into another part of the Piazza, and here there were three spaces of similar extent, about three braccia each that is to say; while at the other end, which is opposite to this now in question, there stands the marble door which gives entrance into the Chapel, with a window and a grating of bronze, so that there remained only one space wherein there could be represented any work of moment.

In this last-mentioned space, on the wall of the Chapel therefore, where there is a decoration of Corinthian columns supporting an architrave and forming a recess, from the ceiling of which there hang two rich festoons, with two pendants of different fruits very naturally represented, on which is seated a naked Child supporting the Ducal Arms— those of the Houses of Medina and Toledo namely;—in this space, I say, Francesco painted two stories, the one on the right showing Camillus commanding that Schoolmaster to be given up to his scholars for punishment; and that on the left exhibiting the same Leader, who makes his way through the ranks of the Gauls, while the army is engaged in combat, and the camp with its stockades and tents is in flames around him. Beside this, and beneath the same range of columns, our artist depicted a group the size of life, representing Opportunity seizing Fortune by the forelock, with certain of the devices of his Excellency, and many other ornaments, all executed with admirable grace and facility.

On the principal façade, that namely wherein are the two large spaces, divided by the chief door of entrance, Francesco executed two large and very beautiful stories; in the first are seen the Gauls, who, weighing the tribute gold of the Romans, throw a sword into the scale, to the end that the weight may be the greater, when Camillus, indignant at this wrong, flies to arms, and by the force of his valour delivers his country from the yoke. This is indeed a singularly beautiful story, rich in figures, adorned with landscapes, and furthermore embellished by the addition of antiquities; as for example. Vases of great beauty, painted to imitate gold and silver.

In the story beside that just described, is