Giorgio Vasari

“ Having by these labours secured a knowledge of the nature of colours, and by the extent of his practice attained to great skill in works of fresco, our artist returned to Udine, where he painted a picture in oil for the altar of the Nunziata in the Church of San Pietro the Martyr, showing Our Lady at the moment when she is receiving the Salutation of the Angel Gabriel; in the heavens above is a figure representing God the Father surrounded by numerous angels in the form of children, and in the act of sending down the Holy Spirit. ”

“ In the house of Messer Pre Giovanni, Intendant of the illustrious Signori della Torre, Pellegrino painted a halflength figure of Judith with the head of Holofernes in her hand, which is a very beautiful thing; and in the district of Civitale, which is distant about eight miles from Udine, there is a large picture in oil by the same hand; this last is divided into several compartments and stands on the high altar of the church of Santa Maria; there are some heads of young maidens in this picture which are extremely beautiful, as are other figures of the same work. ”

“ It will also occasionally happen, that when one has thus commenced, many set themselves to emulate his labours, and these will not unfrequently labour to such purpose, that without having visited Rome, Florence, or any other city where remarkable paintings are to be found, but merely by labouring in emulation of each other, they are seen to produce works of the most admirable excellence. ”

“ On the palace of Messer Marguando, an eminent physician, Florigorio painted a picture in fresco| within a niche which is at one of the angles of the building; the subject is a nude figure foreshortened and intended to represent San Giovanni; the painting is considered to be a very good one. Finally, this artist was compelled by certain troubles into which he got himself to depart from Udine, if he had any mind to live in peace, and he withdrew to Civitale accordingly, living there after the fashion of an exile. ”

“ This may very possibly have happened from his having always taken much pains to produce certain reflexes, halflights, and faint shadows, with which he would break and interrupt the relief in such sort, that the light or shadow ceasing suddenly, produced an unpleasant effect, and the colouring of all his works has been even considered harsh and displeasing, although he studied carefully and laboured hard to make art imitate nature. ”

“ Prince Doria, by way of giving an impulse to his movements, and also desirous of* awakening a degree of emulation which might induce him to attempt more than he might perhaps accomplish if left to himself, the prince, I say, caused Pordenone to be summoned; and that master there commenced the decoration of an open terrace. In his accustomed manner, he executed a frieze, whereon he depicted a number of Children busily occupied with the unlading of a barque filled with merchandize from foreign parts: they move about in all directions, and their attitudes are most graceful. ”

“ Through these letters, beautiful Children, in various attitudes, are passing, clambering and intertwining themselves throughout the same in all directions. Having completed this work to his great honour, Pordenone returned to Piacenza ”

“ This work, which was highly and deservedly extolled, increased the riches as well as the fame of the master, and caused Messer Jacopo Soranzo, who had become his intimate and zealous friend, to make efforts for procuring him a commission to paint the decorations of the Hall of the Pregai [29] in competition with Titian, an appointment which he received accordingly. ”

“ The picture of the High Altar in that church is likewise by Pordenone; this last, if the recollection of the present writer be not at fault, is a Tryptica, the centre compartment representing the Transfiguration of Christ; on the wings or folds are figures of saints, St. Peter and St. John the Baptist namely, -with SS. Prosdocimus and Jerome. These works are all in good preservation, and are powerfully drawn; the colouring also is full of energy, and is exactly what might be expected from the boldness of manner attributed to this master. Other works, likewise nnmentioned by Vasari, also exist ”