the same invention,—outline, expression of the heads, and
attitudes, which were peculiar to Lauratfs master, Giotto.
The whole work is beautiful, but more so than all is the
vaulting of the chapel, where he painted the Assumption of
the Virgin, with figures of the Apostles, four braccia in
height; and herein he displayed the boldness of his spirit,
since he was the first to attempt this grand manner: he, moreover, imparted so pleasing an expression to the heads, and so
charming a grace to the draperies, that nothing better could
be desired, the times considered. The countenances of a
choir of angels, hovering in the air about the Virgin, and
with light movements appearing to sing as they float
around her, express a gladness truly angelic and divine, the
eyes more particularly; which, while these angels are sounding
their various instruments, all turn towards another choir of
angels, who, supported on a cloud in the form of a “ gloria,”
bear the Madonna to heaven, all exhibiting the most beautiful
attitudes, and surrounded by rainbows.[1]
This picture gave
so much satisfaction (and with good reason), that Pietro was
appointed to paint the picture in distemper, for the high altar
of the same church, a work which he executed in five compartments.
The figures are half-lengths, of the size of life;
they represent the Virgin with the Child in her arms: St.
John the Baptist, with St. Matthew, stand on one side, while
St. John the Evangelist, with San Donato, are on the other.
There are many small figures in the ornaments above the
picture, and on the predella beneath it, all really beautiful, and
executed in a very good manner.
This picture, when the
high altar of the church was entirely restored by my own
hand, and at my own cost, was placed on the altar of St.
Christopher, at the western end of the church. Nor will it
be out of place, that I should here relate what I have myself done in this behalf, and I will not refuse the labour of
declaring, that, moved by Christian piety, and by the affection I bear to that ancient and venerable collegiate church,
wherein my childhood received its first instructions, and
where the bones of my fathers find rest—moved by these
causes, I say, and by the degraded condition of the church in
that part, I have restored it in such sort, that it may be said
- ↑ These pictures no longer exist.
