Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/413

Rh seven braccia long, was a performance of extraordinary beauty; and besides these, with many others of minor importance which we omit, he has still in his house, among numerous sketches and pictures commenced, the Martyrdom of San Lorenzo, of size similar to the above, which he also proposes to send to the Catholic King. He has likewise a large canvass exhibiting Christ on the Cross, the thieves on each side, and the executioners beneath, which he is painting for Messer Giovanni d’Arna; and a picture which was begun for the Doge Grimani, father of the Patriarch of Aquileia. For the Hall of the Great Palace of Brescia, Titian has commenced three large pictures, which are to form part of the decorations of the ceiling, as we have said when speaking of the Brescian painters, Cristofano and his brother. He also began a picture many years since for Alfonso, first Duke of Ferrara, the subject is a nude figure of a woman bowing before the Goddess Minerva; there is besides another figure, and in the distance is the Sea, with Neptune in his Chariot; but the death of Alfonso, according to whose fancy the work was composed, caused the picture to remain incomplete, and it is still in Titian’s hands.

Another work, brought to a state of considerable advancement, but not finished, is Our Saviour appearing to Mary Magdalen in the Garden; the figures are of the size of life, as are those of another of equal size where Christ is placed in the Sepulchre, while the Madonna and the other Maries stand around: and among other good things to be seen in his house is a picture of the Madonna, with, as it is said, a portrait of himself, finished four years since, and which is very beautiful and natural. There is, likewise, a figure of San Paolo reading, a half-length figure, which is so fine that it may well be that same which was filled with the Holy Spirit. All these works, with many others which I omit, to avoid prolixity, have been executed up to the present age of our artist, which is above seventy-six years. Titian has been always healthy and happy; he has been favoured beyond the lot of most men, and has received from Heaven only favours and blessings. In his house he has been visited by whatever Princes, Literati, or men of distinction have gone to or dwelt