Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/52

40 Camaldoli, but is now itself the chief seat of a Brotherhood in place of the Monastery of San Benedetto, which, being situate outside of the Pinti Gate, was ruined at the siege of Florence. Here, then, Battista painted in the cloisters the stories which have before been mentioned, while liidolfo was employed in the execution of the picture and other ornaments for the High Altar; and these being finished, they next, as we have related in the life of Bidolfo, adorned with other paintings that holy place, which is widely renowned and much talked of for the many miracles there performed by the Virgin Mother of the Son of God.

Having subsequently returned to Pome, and just at the moment when the Last Judgment of Michelagnolo had been given to public view, Battista, as being a very zealous student of the manner and works of Buonarroti, most joyfully beheld that production completed, and minutely examined the whole design, to his infinite admiration; nay, he copied and made designs from the entire work. He then determined to remain in Pome, and for the Cardinal Francesco Cornaro, who had rebuilt the palace wherein he was dwelling, and which is situate near San Pietro, but with its portico on the side towards the Campo Santo; — for this cardinal, I say, Battista painted a Loggia, which looks on the Piazza; he executed a kind of grottesche, over the stucco-work that is to say, covering the space with figures and minute storiettes; a work which the artist completed with great care and pains, nor did it fail to be considered a very beautiful performance.

About the same time, which was in the year 1538, Francesco Salviati had painted a story in fresco for the Brotherhood of the Misericordia, but had still to give the last touches to his work. He had also undertaken to execute others, which it was the purpose of many private persons to have painted in the same place; but the rivalry which was