Citation link:
https://digi.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/diglit/vasari1851bd4/0099
PERINfiNO DEL VAGA.
91
that the master derived from it a very great increase of
reputation ; and although he had executed many works, and
the world had certainly not then to learn what might be
expected from that exalted genius in his vocation, where-
with Perino was endowed, yet he was from that time held
in much greater account than had previously been the case.
For this reason the Cardinal Santiquattro, Lorenzo Pucci,
having made the acquisition of a chapel on the Santa
Trinita,* which is a monastery of the Calabresi and Franciosi,
who wear the habit of Francesco di Paolo, that Lorenzo, I
say, having taken this chapel, which was beside the principal
chapel, and to the left of the same, made it over to Perino,
to the end that he might paint the life of Our Lady therein.
The master commenced the work accordingly, and finished
the whole of the ceiling, with that portion of the wall more-
over, which is beneath the arch ; on the outer side, and over an
arch of the chapel, he painted two figures of Prophets, which
were not less than four braccia and a half high. These
figures represent Isaiah and Daniel, and in their grand
proportions they display all that knowledge of art, that
excellence in design, and beauty of colouring, which can
only be found in their perfection in the pictures of a great
artist. And this will be perceived by all who shall examine
these figures, but more particularly the Isaiah ; the prophet
is reading, and the deep thought which he gives to the
subject of his study, with the zealous earnestness of the
researches in which he is engaged, and his desire for the
attainment of increased knowledge, are all clearly manifest;
his eyes are riveted to his book, and he leans his head on
his hand in all the absorption of a man profoundly occupied
with his subject. The attitude of Daniel is equally fine, his
figure is immoveable, and with the head raised to heaven he
seems lost in celestial contemplation, and in the effort to
resolve the doubts of his people.
Between the Prophets are two Boys who support the
escutcheon of the cardinal, the shield of these arms is of a
singularly beautiful shape, and the children are not only
* Santa Trinita di Monte is here meant. This church, erected by
Charles VIII. at the request of Francesco di Paolo, for the Order founded
by that Saint, was barbarously devastated by the French troops, who were
guartered therein during the first French Revolution.
91
that the master derived from it a very great increase of
reputation ; and although he had executed many works, and
the world had certainly not then to learn what might be
expected from that exalted genius in his vocation, where-
with Perino was endowed, yet he was from that time held
in much greater account than had previously been the case.
For this reason the Cardinal Santiquattro, Lorenzo Pucci,
having made the acquisition of a chapel on the Santa
Trinita,* which is a monastery of the Calabresi and Franciosi,
who wear the habit of Francesco di Paolo, that Lorenzo, I
say, having taken this chapel, which was beside the principal
chapel, and to the left of the same, made it over to Perino,
to the end that he might paint the life of Our Lady therein.
The master commenced the work accordingly, and finished
the whole of the ceiling, with that portion of the wall more-
over, which is beneath the arch ; on the outer side, and over an
arch of the chapel, he painted two figures of Prophets, which
were not less than four braccia and a half high. These
figures represent Isaiah and Daniel, and in their grand
proportions they display all that knowledge of art, that
excellence in design, and beauty of colouring, which can
only be found in their perfection in the pictures of a great
artist. And this will be perceived by all who shall examine
these figures, but more particularly the Isaiah ; the prophet
is reading, and the deep thought which he gives to the
subject of his study, with the zealous earnestness of the
researches in which he is engaged, and his desire for the
attainment of increased knowledge, are all clearly manifest;
his eyes are riveted to his book, and he leans his head on
his hand in all the absorption of a man profoundly occupied
with his subject. The attitude of Daniel is equally fine, his
figure is immoveable, and with the head raised to heaven he
seems lost in celestial contemplation, and in the effort to
resolve the doubts of his people.
Between the Prophets are two Boys who support the
escutcheon of the cardinal, the shield of these arms is of a
singularly beautiful shape, and the children are not only
* Santa Trinita di Monte is here meant. This church, erected by
Charles VIII. at the request of Francesco di Paolo, for the Order founded
by that Saint, was barbarously devastated by the French troops, who were
guartered therein during the first French Revolution.