wanting, being executed many years after, under Messer Sebastiano della Seta, the then warden of that cathedral.
It was just then that Perino arrived in Pisa, on his return from Genoa, and having examined the commencement thus made, which he had been taken to see by that most ingenious master in perspective, inlaid work, and wood-carving, Battista Cervelliera, an excellent judge of art,—having seen all that was done, I say, Perino was then conducted to the Warden. Discoursing together thereupon respecting the works undertaken for the embellishment of the cathedral, Perino was requested by the Warden to paint a picture immediately within the ordinary door of entrance, where the frame-work for the same was already prepared, and over this work the artist was furthermore commissioned to execute another picture, the subject whereof was to be St. George slaying the Dragon, and liberating the daughter of the King. Perino accordingly made a very beautiful design, and between the two chapels which occupy that part of the building, he painted a number of children,[1] adding various decorations, among which were niches with figures of Prophets and historical representations of divers kinds.
This design pleasing the Warden exceedingly well, Perino then prepared the cartoon for one of the chapels, and began to paint the first, -which is opposite to the before-mentioned portal; here he finished six boys, which are very well done, and was to have continued these figures entirely around the whole, which would certainly have constituted a rich and beautiful ornament. The entire work indeed would have proved without doubt a very admirable and honourable one, biit the artist was seized with a wish to return to Genoa, to which place he was attracted by certain love affairs and other fantasies, whereunto his inclinations sometimes led him, with a force which he did not resist so effectually as he might have done. On his departure from Pisa, the master presented the nuns of San Matteo with a small picture in oil, which he had painted for them, and which they still retain in their convent.
Arrived in Genoa, he there remained several months, executing many works for the prince, in addition to those
- ↑ These paintings are still in existence, although somewhat injured in certain parts by the retouching which it has been found medful to give them.
