intended to signify Opportunity, who, having taken Fortune by the forelock, is on the point of cutting off the hair with his shears; this is the device of the above-named Pontiff; and in the delineation of the same, Taddeo Zucchero acquitted himself exceedingly well. Subsequently, and when Vasari had prepared the design (which he had done before any of the other artists), for that Court and Fountain in the new Palace, afterwards carried into execution by Vignola and Ammannato, the masonry being undertaken by Baronino, and many pictures being painted therein by Prospero Fontana,[1] as will be related hereafter; on that occasion I say, Taddeo Zucchero was also frequently employed, and this was the cause of future benefit to our artist, seeing that the Pope, being highly satisfied with his methods of proceeding, gave him further occupation. This was in the Belvedere, and consisted in small figures, which serve as the friezes of the apartments, together with an open Loggia; which stands behind that turned towards Rome, and where Taddeo painted all the Labours of Hercules, in figures as large as life. This work which was in chiaro-scuro, was destroyed under the Pontificate of Paul IV., for the purpose of building a Chapel with certain chambers on the site of the Loggia.
At the Vigna of Pope Julius, and in the principal apartments of the Palace, Taddeo painted Stories in the centre of the ceilings; one, representing Mount Parnassus, may be more particularly mentioned. In the Court of this Vigna likewise, our artist executed two Stories in chiara-scuro; they represent the Rape of the Sabines, and stand one on each side of the marble door which enters the Loggia, at that point where the descent to the Fountain of the Acqua Virgine commences. All these works were highly and deservedly extolled,[2]
Now Federigo Zucchero had repaired to Urbino while Taddeo was at Verona with the Duke Gruidobaldo, and between that place and Pesaro he had continued to abide from that time; but Taddeo caused him to return to Rome after the completion of the pictures above-named, and there he availed himself of the services of the youth on a large
