the genius imparted by the air and under the skies of his native place, to those who were born there, encouraged Lappoli, (although the latter required but little pressing), to accompany himself to Rome, where he promised to procure him all that could be required to promote his due study of the art to which he had devoted his attention.
Having proceeded to Rome with Messer Paolo accordingly, Giovan-Antonio soon found Perino, Rosso, and others of his friends; he was also made known, by the intervention of Messer Paolo, to Giulio Romano, Sebastiano Veneziano, and Francesco Mazzuoli of Parma,[1] who arrived in Rome about that time. Now Francesco was a devoted lover of music, and delighted in playing on the lute; he soon conceived a great liking for the society of Giovan-Antonio, and as they were almost constantly together, this caused the latter to paint and draw with much assiduity; thus turning to the best profit the opportunity which he now had of being the friend and associate of the most eminent painters in Rome. He had indeed already very nearly completed a picture of Our Lady, almost of the size of life, and which Messer Paolo intended to present to Pope Clement, by way of making Giovan-Antonio known to his Holiness; when, as Fortune, who so often sets herself to oppose the designs of men, would have it, there supervened that most unhappy sack of Rome, which began on the 6th of May, in the year 1527.
In this conjuncture, Messer Paolo, mounting on horseback, and with Giovan Antonio in his company, hurried to the Gate of the Santo Spirito, in the Trastevere, hoping to impede the entrance of Bourbon’s troops on that side, at least for a certain time; but Messer Paolo was killed at the Gate, and Lappoli was taken prisoner* by the Spaniards. The whole city was immediately afterwards given up to plunder, and the poor Giovan-Antonio not only lost all his property, but also the picture and the designs which he had in the chapel. He was, moreover, grievously tormented by the Spaniards, to the end that he might pay them a ransom; but one night he escaped in his shirt with some other captives, when, evil entreated, despairing of his life from the dangerous state of the roads, and incurring many dangers, he finally succeeded in reaching Arezzo. Here he was received by his
- ↑ Parmigiano.
