Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/161

Rh by Taddeo Zucchero of Sant’ Agnolo, as will be related in the proper place.

The Chapel which Fra Bastiano had commenced in the Church of the Popolo for Agostino Chigi, but which, as we have related in his Life, he had not finished, was completed by Francesco; and for the Cardinal Riccio da Montepulciano, this artist painted an exceedingly beautiful Hall, in his Palace situate in the Strada Giulia, representing various stories from the life of David therein; the work, which is in fresco, consists of numerous pictures, one of which presents Bathsheba as seen in the Bath, with many other female figures, while David stands looking at them. This story is a good and graceful composition, nor do I know a work more rich in respect of its invention. In another picture is the death of Uriah; in a third is the Ark, with men sounding musical instruments as they walk before it; and finally, after many others, there follows a Battle-piece, showing David in combat with his enemies, and extremely well composed; at a word, the whole work is full of grace, exhibiting the richest fancy with many singular and ingenious inventions, the groups are arranged with much judgment, and the colouring is most agreeable. Francesco was indeed so well aware of the bold and copious powers of invention with which he had been endowed, that, perceiving his hand to be always obedient to his genius, he would gladly have occupied all his time with some great and extraordinary work.

If Francesco was sometimes peculiar in his conduct towards his friends, that circumstance arose principally from the fact that, being versatile and unstable in certain matters, that which pleased him to-day became insufferable to him on the morrow; it is also to be remarked that he completed few works of importance in respect to which he- had not to endure a contention before the price demanded fdf the same could be settled, and for this cause he was disliked and avoided by not a few.

At a subsequent period it chanced that Andrea Tassini was required to send a painter to the King of France, and in the year 1554 he applied to Giorgio Vasari, but neither