Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/481

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raffaellino del garbo.
473

than all the kings, with the queens to boot, that had ever ruled in Hungary! Well was it for Yisino that as touching this matter he fell into the hands of a good kind-hearted bishop, a man versed in the customs of different countries, who treated the affair with prudence, considering it, and finding means to make the people consider it, a mere jest; had it not been for him, indeed, Yisino would have been taught what it is to play with savages, for those wild animals of Hungarians, not understanding his language, and thinking he had said some great thing, such as that he would take life and crown from their king; raised a perfect fury among the populace, and, seeking neither judge nor jury, were proceeding to crucify him without further ceremony. But the honest bishop extricated him as we have said, and secured him from all further embarrassment on that score; representing the matter in its most favourable aspect, he reinstated Vdsino in the favour of the king, who being told the whole story was highly diverted with it.

From that time forward, the abilities of the painter were much esteemed and honoured in that country; but his good fortune did not avail him long, he was unable to endure the Iieat of the stoved rooms, while the cold of the external air proved equally injurious to his constitution; to be brief, these things ultimately brought his life to an early close, but his favour and reputation survived in the memory of all who knew him, and the latter became further extended as his works were gradually made known.

The pictures of Visino were painted about the year 1515.




THE FLORENTINE PAINTER, RAFFAELLINO BEL GARBO.

[born 1473—died 1524.]

Raffaello del Garbo, having received the name of Raffaellino, as a nom de caresse, in his childhood, retained it ever after, and was so called through his whole life. The expectation of what he would ultimately accomplish in art was so highly raised in his youth that he was numbered among the most eminent masters at a very early period of life, a distinction attained by few. But to still fewer is