Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/482

470 executed Stories in imitation of bronze, as we have before' said, representing therein the deeds of the Signor Griovanni de’ Medici. These pictures of Agnolo’s were the best painted for that solemnity; wherefore the Duke, perceiving Bronzino’s ability, commanded him to begin a Chapel for the Signora Duchess, a lady excellent above all that have ever lived, and whose infinite merits render her worthy of eternal praise. In the vaulting of this Chapel, which was not of large size, Bronzino painted beautiful Children, with four figures of Saints, S.S. Brancesco, Jeronimo, Michelagnolo, and Giovanni namely, all executed with extreme love and care. On the three walls of the Chapel, the space in two of which is interrupted by the door and window, our artist painted three Stories from the Life of Moses, one on each wall that is to say; on the side of the door is the Story of the Serpents falling on the People; and here are figures, some dying, some dead, and others recovering after having looked on the brazen serpent. On the side wherein is the window we have the Pall of Manna; and in the unbroken wall of the remaining side is the Passage of the Bed Sea, with the Submersion of Pharaoh.

The last-mentioned Story has been engraved at Antwerp, and the whole work, completed with all the care possible to a production in fresco, is such that it has not its equal. The Altar-piece of the Chapel, painted in oil, exhibited Our Saviour Christ deposed from the Cross, and lying in the lap of the Virgin; but this was taken away by Duke Cosimo, who sent it as a work of extraordinary merit to Granvella, the most influential personage then about the Emperor Charles V. The same artist has therefore painted a similar picture, and placed it over the Altar, between two others which are no less beautiful, and which represent the Virgin, with the Angel of the Annunciation. Before the first altarpiece was removed, however, there were in the place of these a San Giovanni Battista and a San Cosimo; but the Signora Duchess, having changed her mind, these were put into the Guardaroba, and the Virgin with the Angel were painted for the Chapel in their stead.

The Signor Duke, convinced by these and other works of Bronzino’s abilities; perceiving, too, that he was particularly