Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/57

Rh nre, moreover, always of very graceful character, and exhibit the most careful execution.

But let us now return to Battista Franco. In the solemnities for the nuptials of the Signor Duke of Urbino, with the above-named Signora Vittoria Farnese, and which took place at the city of Urbino, our artist was employed by Genga, who had charge of all the preparations, and who, liaving erected arches of triumph, caused Battista to paint all the stories with which they were decorated, a work accomplished by that artist with the aid of his disciples. But the Duke, being apprehensive that Battista would not be ready in time, sent for Giorgio Vasari, who was at that moment in Rimini, painting a large chapel in fresco, with the altar piece of the same in oil, for the White Monks of Monte Oliveto; the preparations for those nuptials being a very great undertaking; the Duke, I say, desired Giorgio to go to Urbino for the purpose of assisting Genga and Battista in the works required. Vasari was, however, indisposed at the time; he wrote to the Duke therefore, excusing himself, and begging his Excellency to have no fear, since Battista had so much skill and knowledge that he would without doubt have the whole work finished within the appointed time, as did indeed prove to be the case.

But when Vasari had completed his undertaking in Rimini, he repaired to Urbino, there to visit the Duke, and to make his excuses in person to that Sovereign. His Excellency then caused him to examine the above-mentioned chapel, to the end that he might estimate the value of the work, when Giorgio praised it highly, and extolled the merit of the artist, who was largely satisfied with the great liberality of the Duke. Battista was not in Urbino at the moment, he having gone to Rome, where he was engaged in making designs, not only from the statues, but from all the other antiquities of that city, with intention to prepare a large book of the same, which he subsequently effected, and the work was highly commended.

Now, while Battista was thus occupied, it came to pass