Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/399

Rh do the other figures. To this work Titian affixed his name. In the second picture, which is near the above, and is seen on first entering, there are numerous figures of Loves and beautiful Children in various attitudes: the most beautiful among these is one who is fishing in a river, and whose figure is reflected in the water. This greatly pleased the Duke, as did the first picture. These children surround an Altar, on which is a statue of Venus with a shell in her hand; she is attended by Grace and Beauty, exquisite figures, which are finished with indescribable care. On the door of a press Titian painted the figure of Christ, from the middle upwards, a most beautiful and admirable work; a wicked Hebrew is showing to Jesus the coin of Cassar: other pictures, executed in the same place, are declared by our artists to be among the best ever produced by Titian, and are indeed singularly fine. He was consequently rewarded very largely by the Duke, whose portrait he also took, representing him as leaning on a large piece of artillery. He portrayed the Signora Laura likewise, who was afterwards wife of the Duke; and this too is an admirable work: nor is it t<) be denied that the labours of those who toil for art have great energy when stimulated by the liberality of Princes.

About this time Titian formed a friendship with the divine Messer Ludovico Ariosto, and was by him acknowledged as an admirable painter, being celebrated as such in his Orlando Purioso.

..... E. Tizian che onora Non men Cador che quei Venezia e Urbino.

Having then returned to Venice, Titian painted a picture in oil, for the brother-in-law of Giovanni da Castel-Bolognese; a nude figure of a Shepherd, to whom a Peasant Girl offers a Piute: around the group is a beautiful Landscape: that work is now at Paenza, in the house of the abovenamed Giovanni. Por the High Altar in the Church of the Minorite Priars, called the Ca Grande, this artist painted a picture of our Lady ascending into Heaven, with the Twelve Apostles beneath. But of that work, which was painted on cloth, and perhaps not carefully kept, little can now be seen.