Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/567

Rh have much at heart. Having made my arrangements, with a hundred crowns which Pope Pius sent me for that purpose, and sending the picture before me, I repaired to Rome accordingly, where, after I had remained a month, and had held much discourse with His Holiness, advising him not to permit that any changes should be made in the plans of Michelagnolo for the construction of San Pietro, and preparing certain designs which he required, I received his commands to paint, for the High Altar of the above-named Church at the Bosco, not a picture such as is usual, but an immense construction, in the manner of a Triumphal Arch, with two large paintings, one before, the other behind, and about thirty stories in smaller pictures, all of which were brought to completion with tolerable success.

At this time I obtained from His Holiness the gracious favour of his permission to erect a chapel and decan ate in the Deanery of Arezzo, and he sent m.e the Bull free of cost in the kindest manner. It is the principal chapel of that Church, and is placed under the invocation of my patron Saint, and that of my house: it was endowed by myself, and painted with my own hand, being offered as an acknowledgment (although it be but a small one) of the Divine Goodness, and an evidence of my thankfulness for the infinite favours and benefits which the Supreme Ruler of all things hath vouchsafed to confer upon me.