Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/162

150 promises of great pay nor high promotion could prevail with that artist, who replied that he would on no account depart from the service of his Lord the Duke Cosimo. Tassini, therefore, at length agreed with Francesco, on the understanding that if the latter were not amply satisfied in France, he was to be remunerated in Rome by Tassini. But before Francesco would depart for France, having the conviction that he should return from that country no more, he sold all that he possessed, his house, his furniture, and everything besides, with the exception of the ofiices to which he had been nominated, these he retained.

The affair did nevertheless not turn out as he had expected: when he arrived in Paris he was received most courteously by Messer Francesco Primaticcio, Abbot of San Martino, who was then painter and architect to the King, but, as it is said, he was at once perceived to be a very singular person, and among other things it was observed that he never cast his eyes on the works of any other master, Rosso, or whomever it might be, that he did not openly and decidedly censure them. Every one then began to expect that some very great thing would be produced by himselfj and the Cardinal of Lorraine, who had caused him to be sent for, set him to execute certain pictures in his Palace of Dampierre: for this work Francesco then prepared numerous drawings, and finally setting hand to the painting, he executed various pictures in fresco over the cornices of several apartments, and also decorated a study with stories which are said to be of high merit: but be the cause what it may, he did not receive any great commendation for these labours. Francesco was indeed never much liked in France, he being of a disposition altogether opposed to that of the men of the country, seeing that by as much as the joyous and jovial companions who live freely with all, and appear willingly at festivals and banquets, are acceptable to them, by so much, are, I will not say, disliked or avoided, but at least, less welcome to them, all such as, like Francesco, are of a melancholy temperament, reserved manners, infirm health and peevish temper. And if for some of these things he deserved indulgence, as, for example, that his constitution did not permit him to frequent feasts and festivals, yet he might have been more courteous in his demeanour, and more friendly in conversation: but