Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/559

Rh Jupiter, with his nourishment by the Goat Amalthea, and the other more important circumstances related concerning him. In another room on the ground-floor, and beside that just mentioned, but richly adorned with marbles and stuccowork, are Stories of Jupiter and Juno; and finally, in the room succeeding the above, is the Birth of Hercules and all his Labours; those which could not be contained in the ceiling having been added to the frieze of each room, or executed in cloth of arras, corresponding to the various stories which the Signor Duke has caused to be woven after Cartoons prepared by myself.

Of the grottesche, ornaments, and pictures of the staircases, with other minute details prepared by my hand for those apartments, I will say nothing, not only because I propose to speak of them at greater length in another place, but also because every one can see and judge of them for himself.

While these rooms were receiving their paintings, others, which are on a level with the Great Hall, and in a direct line with the same, were in process of construction; they are furnished with exceedingly convenient staircases, public and private, and by these access may be gained most commodiously from the lowest even to the highest chambers of the Palace.

Tasso, meanwhile, had died; and the Duke, who had a great wish to have this palace (which had been constructed at various times almost as it were by chance, and more for the convenience of the officials than with a view to good effect) brought into something like good order, determined to improve the same so far as should be found possible, resolving that in course of time the Great Hall should be painted, and that the Audience-chamber, commenced by Bandinello, should be completed. To bring the building into harmony therefore, making that which was to be done in accordance with the part already finished, he commanded me to prepare