Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/205

Rh hammer, he dashed something—I know not what—that had been painted by Taddeo, to pieces, and in his anger remained several days before he would return to the house. These things becoming known to their friends, the latter took such measures that the brothers were eventually reconciled, with the understanding that Taddeo might correct or retouch the designs or cartoons of Federigo at his pleasure, but was not to lay a hand on the works which the latter was executing in oil, in fresco, or in any other manner.

Having finished the painting of the above-mentioned house, Federigo was universally extolled, and the work acquired for him the reputation of being an excellent painter. Taddeo was then commissioned to restore those Apostles which had been long before executed in terretta by Raffaello, in the Sala dei Palafrenieri, but which had been destroyed by order of Paul IV.; having completed one of these figures, Taddeo then caused all the others to be executed by Federigo, who acquitted himself exceedingly well in that work also. They afterwards painted in company a Frieze in one of the Halls of the Palace at the Ara Coeli; this was a fresco in colours. Now it was about this time that the treaty was in progress for giving the Signora Donna Virginia, daughter of the Duke Guidobaldo of Urbino, as a wife to the Signor Federigo Borromeo, when Taddeo was sent for to take the Portrait of the lady, which he did to admiration. Before his departure from Urbino he also prepared all the designs for a Credenza, which Duke Guidobaldo subsequently caused to be made at Castel Durante, and sent to Philip King of Spain.

Returning to Pome, Taddeo presented the portrait of Donna Virginia to the Pope, who was greatly pleased therewith; but such was the discourtesy of the Pontiff, or of his ministers, that the poor artist was not paid even the expenses which he had incurred. In the year 1560, the Pope expected the Signor Duke Cosimo, with the Signora Duchess Leonora his Consort to pay him a visit; and intending to lodge their Excellencies in the rooms which had been erected by Innocent VIII. (and which look on the first Court, as well as on that of San Pietro, having Loggie in front of them, which look on the Court of the Benediction), the care of such pictures and other ornaments as were required for that occasion was given to Taddeo, who was also commissioned to gild the