been at any time, seeing that in his paintings he showed the true mode of depicting the nude form, and proved that it can be made, although not without consummate art and much difficulty, to appear as does the actual life. This artist was the creature and disciple of Pietro dal Borgo-a San Sepolcro, and much did he labour in his youth to imitate, or rather to surpass, his master. While working with the latter in Arezzo, he was received into the house of Lazzaro Vasari, his uncle,[1] as we have said,[2] and there copied the manner of Pietro with such exactitude that it was difficult to distinguish the works of one from those of the other.
The first works of Luca were performed in Arezzo, where he painted the chapel of Santa Barbara, in the church of San Lorenzo: this he did in the year 1472. For the Brotherhood of Santa Caterina he painted, on canvas and in oil, the banner which is borne by that company in procession, as he did the banner for the Trinita; although this does not seem to be by the hand of Luca so much as by that of Pietro dal Borgo.[3] In the same city, Luca Signorelli painted the picture of San Niccolb da Tolentino for the church of Sant’ Agostino: the very beautiful little stories of this work display excellent design and rich invention.[4] In the same place our artist painted two angels[5] in fresco, for the chapel of the Sacrament. In the church of San Francesco, and in the chapel of the Accolti family, he painted a picture for Messer Francesco,[6] doctor of laws, wherein he depicted the portraits of the said Messer Francesco, with others of persons who were of his kindred. In this work is a figure of St. Michael weighing the souls of the departed, which is most admirable; and here Luca has displayed the knowledge he had acquired in the brilliancy of the arms, the reflected lights to be seen
- ↑ Luca Signorelli was the son of Egidio di Ventura Signorelli and of the sister of Lazzaro Vasari.— Bottari.
- ↑ In the life of Lazzaro Vasari.
- ↑ The paintings of the chapel of Santa Barbara are destroyed, as are also the banners for bearing in procession.—Bottari.
- ↑ It was taken from the church and placed in the convent, but on the suppression of the latter it was removed; the place to which it was taken cannot now be ascertained. —Ed. Flor., 1832-8.
- ↑ This fresco has perished.— Ibid.
- ↑ The learned Legist, Francesco Accolti who died at Siena in 1488.
