Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/211

Rh but these being left unfinished by the death of Taddeo have been completed by Federigo, who has lately given them to view, and that to his no small credit. About the same time Taddeo painted certain pictures in oil, which were sent into France hy the Ambassador of the French King.

The death of Francesco Salviati having caused the smaller Hall of the Farnese palace to remain unfinished, wanting two Stories that is to say at the entrance, which is opposite to the great window, the Cardinal Sant’ Agnolo Farnese gave the commission for the work to Taddeo, who conducted it very successfully to its conclusion, although he did not surpass Francesco, nor indeed did he equal that master in the paintings of the apartment in question, as certain envious and malignant persons have gone about Rome affirming that he has done, with the hope of diminishing the glory of Salviati by their calumnies. Taddeo indeed, made efforts to excuse himself for not having done better in that work, by declaring that it had been painted principally by his disciples, and that the only part executed by his own hand was the design, with some few other portions; but these excuses were not accepted, for in so manifest a rivalry no man will entrust the credit of his art and reputation to weaker and less capable hands than his own, since that would be to incur a certain defeat.

It was now that the Cardinal Sant’ Agnolo, a man of a truly profound judgment in all things, and of the most admirable goodness,—it was now I say, that he perceived the extent of the loss incurred by the death of Salviati; for although the latter was proud, obstinate, and ill-tempered, he was truly excellent in all things appertaining to his art. Finding, nevertheless that the best artists were now almost wholly wanting in Rome, the Prelate determined at length, and as there were no others, to give the commission for painting that Hall to Taddeo, who accepted it gladly, proposing therein to give evidence, by every effort he could make, of the ability and knowledge which he possessed.

Now the Florentine Lorenzo Pucci, Cardinal Santi Quattro, had caused a chapel to be constructed in the Church of the Trinità, and here Perino del Vaga had painted the ceiling, with figures of Prophets and two Boys, who supported the Arms of that Cardinal, on the outside of the Chapel. But the work being still incomplete, three sides