Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/401

Rh not long afterwards lie painted the portrait of King Francis, who was then leaving Italy to return to France.

When Andrea Gritti was elected Doge, our artist made his Portrait also; a beautiful thing it is, the likeness being in the figure of Sant’ Andrea, who makes one of a group, consisting of Our Lady, San Marco, and himself The picture is now in the Hall of the College. He painted other portraits of the Doges likewise, that being in his office, as we have said; and these were Pietro Lando, Francesco Donato, Marcantonio Trevisano, and Yeniero; but in respect to the two Doges and brothers Pauli, he was excused, because he had become very old at the time of their election.

The renowned poet, Pietro Aretino, having left Rome before the sack of that city, and repaired to Venice, then became the intimate of Titian and Sansovino, which was both honourable and useful to the former, who was by that circumstance made known wherever the pen of the writer had reached, more especially to certain powerful princes, as will be related in due time. To return, meanwhile, to the works of Titian: it was by him that the Altar-piece of San Piero Martire, in the Church of S.S. Giovanni and Paolo, was painted. San Piero, a figure larger than life, is seen extended on the earth, in a wood of very large trees, he is fiercely assailed by a Soldier, who has already wounded him so grievously in the head, that although still living, the shadows of death are seen on his face. The countenance of another Monk, who is flying from the scene, exhibits the utmost terror. In the air are two nude figures of Angels descending from Heaven in a blaze of light, by which the picture is illumined; these are most beautiful, as is indeed the whole work, which is the best and most perfectly finished, as it is the most renowned of any that Titian has yet executed. This painting having been seen by Gritti, who was ever the friend of Titian as well as of Sansovino, he caused the former to receive a commission for the Story of a great Battle-piece, to be painted in the Hall of the Grand Council, and representing the route of Chiaradadda. The soldiers are contending furiously, while heavy rain is falling on them.