Giorgio Vasari

“ It is true, that the student sometimes persuades himself to believe his own powers superior to those of him by whom he should be guided, but if perchance he should lose this guidance, and be deprived too early of the design and direction of the master, before he has attained the due end of his labours, and has acquired firmness in design, and facility in execution, such disciple too often finds that he has been wasting his efforts, and has but involved himself in a sea of errors, amidst the infinite vastness of which he wanders as do the blind. ”

“ Having passed the great Loggia with its decorations in stucco, the numerous arms and other fanciful ornaments, with which it is adorned, we arrive in apartments so rich in a thousand various fantasies that the mind is overwhelmed and becomes confounded amidst them. ”

“ On that day the arts of design, together with all the other arts, were recalled to new life, and Giulio and Giovan Francesco set themselves joyfully to work, by command of the Pontiff, to finish the above-named hall of Constantine. The preparation of grounding which had been made for painting in oil they threw down; leaving nevertheless two figures, which Raphael had previously painted in oil as a sort of ornamental frame-work to certain popes: these were a figure of Justice, and another figure of similar character. ”

“ In Flanders also and in France many plates have been engraved from the designs of Giulio, but of these, however beautiful they may be, it does not need that we should now make mention, nor would it be easy to enumerate all his designs, seeing that he produced them, so to speak, in loads; let it suffice to say that he had such extraordinary facility in all works of art, but more particularly in design, that there is no memorial of any artist who has performed more numerous works than himself. ”

“ Now in those days the architect Antonio Sangallo died in Rome, and the superintendents of San Pietro found themselves in no small embarrassment, not knowing towards whom to turn themselves, or on what master they might devolve the charge of conducting so great a fabric to its conclusion, after the manner already commenced. ”

“ The Graces are seen in like manner equally filled with dread, and all the gods in short, seized with terror, take to flight, each in his chariot. The Moon, Saturn, and Janus turn towards that part of the heavens which is least involved in darkness, as if to remove themselves as far as possible from that horrible tumult and terror, as does Neptune, who, with his dolphins, appears trying to maintain himself on his trident, while Pallas, with the nine muses, stands watching the fearful event that is taking place before them, as questioning what so dreadful an occurrence may portend. ”

“ But whether in those who fly or those who stay, all the effects of fear are rendered with so much force, that it is not possible, I do not say to see, but to imagine, a more admirable composition in painting than this is. ”

“ In the octangles are the principal events in the history of Psyche, [36] with the sufferings which she endured from the anger of Venus, all executed with the same beauty and perfection: the angles of the windows exhibit numerous Loves, which are distributed according to the space at the disposal of the artist; the whole ceiling being painted in oil by the above-named Benedetto and Rinaldo. The remainder of the pictures from the history of Psyche are on the walls beneath and are painted in fresco, they are much larger than those on the ceiling. ”

“ It is amidst these falling ruins that the fire-place of the apartment is placed, and when fire is lighted therein the giants are seen as if burning amidst the flames. Here the master has depicted Pluto in his chariot; drawn by meagre bare-boned horses, and, accompanied by the Furies, he is flying towards the centre: the artist never departing from the purpose he had proposed to himself in any portion of the picture; by this invention of the fire for example, he gave an appropriate as well as beautiful character to his chimneypiece; and the same may be said of every other part of the painting. ”

“ It is meanwhile to be regretted that in a city which he so richly adorned, there has been found no one to take count of his deserts, except at such times as they required his services, when they were ready enough to think of him: but the art from which he obtained so much honour in life has raised him a monument in his works which neither time nor the years shall have power to consume. ”

“ The face of Icarus is pale as that of a corpse, and the whole composition is so admirably worked out, that it appears to be the reality itself; the effect of the sun’s heat, as it destroys the wings of the unhappy youth, is rendered palpable to sight ”

“ Among the many, nay, rather, the innumerable scholars of Raphael of Urbino, although the greater part of them became able artists, there was none who pursued the footsteps of the master more closely, whether as regarded manner, invention, design, or colouring, than Giulio Romano ”

“ The apartment being thus constructed in a manner so unusual, Giulio set himself to paint therein the most extraordinary inventions that he could possibly devise; the subject chosen was Jupiter launching his thunderbolts at the Giants, and having depicted the Olympian Heaven in the highest part of the vaulting, he there placed the Throne of Jove, foreshortened, as seen from below; showing also the front and interior of a round temple, with columns of the Ionic order: the God has a canopy midway over his seat, and his eagle is beside him, all which the master displayed as borne on the clouds. ”

“ Giulio Romano assisted Raphael in the painting of many things in that apartment of the Torre Borgia wherein is the Conflagration of the Borgo, more particularly the basement, which is painted in colours to imitate bronze, and where Giulio depicted figures of the Countess Matilda, King Pepin, Charlemagne, Godfrey de Bouillon, King of Jerusalem, and other benefactors of the church; these are all works of great merit, and no long time since there were published engravings of parts thereof, executed after a design made by Giulio himself. ”

“ Wherefore let none believe that he could ever behold any work of the pencil better calculated to awaken fear and horror, or more truly natural and life-like, than that before us; nay, whosoever enters that chamber and sees all the doors, windows, and other parts, constructed as they areawry, and as it were on the point of falling with the buildings, and even the mountains tumbling around in ruin, cannot fail to be in doubt whether all be not about to topple down upon him, and the rather as he sees the very gods in heaven, some rushing here, and others there, but all taking to flight. ”

“ In our book we have the design of this most beautiful picture by Griulio’s own hand.
In the same place our artist painted stories characteristic of the twelve months of the year, describing in all the occupations in which men most frequently employ themselves during each; a work which is no less remarkable and pleasing for the beautiful and fanciful invention displayed therein than for the judgment and care of its execution. ”

“ Among the many attendants of the Pope here taken from nature, was the little Cavalier Messer Niccolo Vespucci, Knight of Rhodes, who was at that time all-powerful with his Holiness. Beneath this story, and in the basement, Giulio painted a group to imitate bronze, the subject presenting the Emperor Constantine, engaged in the building of the church of San Pietro at Rome, and alluding to Pope Clement: in this part of the work are the architect Bramante and Giuliano Lemi, [16] the latter holding the ground-plan of the church in his hand; an exceedingly meritorious picture. ”

“ In one of the compartments of the Hall of Constantine, Giulio depicted that Emperor making a speech to his soldiers, while in the air above is seen the sign of the cross appearing in a splendour of light, surrounded by angels in the form of children and with the words, “In hoc Signo vinces.” A Dwarf, standing at the feet of Constantine, and placing a helmet on his head, is executed with much art. ”

“ In this lower part of the painting, Giulio has also depicted Briareus in a dark cavern almost covered with enormous masses of rock, with other giants lying crushed and some dead beneath the ruins of the mountains. Through the cleft of another dark cave in the distance, moreover, and which is managed with infinite judgment, there are seen other giants in full flight, struck by the thunderbolts of Jove, they seem also on the point of being crushed, as are the others, beneath the ruins of the mountains. ”

“ The building is a rectangle with an open court in the centre, which is rather like a meadow or public square, into which open four ways in the form of a cross; one conducts into a very wide and extensive Loggia, whence another entrance leads into the gardens, while two others open into various apartments, all which are decorated with stucco-work and paintings. ”

“ The invention and composition of this painting are alike beautiful and graceful, the young man Saul is seen seated by the garments, while the Jews are engaged in the martyrdom of the saint. Giulio Romano never executed a more admirable painting than this, the fierce attitudes and expression of the persecutors are rendered equally well with the patience of the martyr, whose look, which is turned upward, is such, that he truly appears to see the Saviour Christ seated at the right hand of the Father, in a Heaven which is indeed most divinely painted. ”

“ Giulio died in his fifty-fourth year, [70] leaving one male child only, to whom he had given the name of Raphael, for the love which he bore to the memory of his master. But this youth had scarcely acquired the first principles of art, in which he gave promise of becoming an able master, when he also died: [71] this happened not many years after the death of his father, as did also the decease of his mother, the consort of Giulio. There then remained of the artist no other descendant than a daughter called Virginia, who is now the wife of Ercole Malatesta, and still abiding in Mantua. ”

“ Both these figures are of the size of life. [56] On the walls of the same chapel, Giulio further caused Rinaldo to paint two very beautiful pictures after his own designs; one of these represents the Crucifixion of Our Saviour Christ, with the Two Thieves; in the air above are Angels, and beneath are the Executioners, with the Maries and many Horses, in which Giulio always delighted greatly, and which he rendered admirably well, making them beautiful to a marvel: there are numerous Soldiers also in finely varied attitudes. ”

“ The Emperor presents a golden figure of Rome to the Pontiff, made after the manner of those on the ancient medals, and intended to signify the dowry, wherewith Constantine had invested the Roman church. In this picture there are many women regarding the ceremony in a kneeling position, they are exceedingly beautiful, as is likewise a child playing with a dog. A Beggar imploring alms is also very fine, and the Lancers of the guard, compelling the people to stand back and make place, as is customary, are figures full of spirit. ”

“ There is a woman moreover who is spinning, and is at the same time looking at a hen with her chickens; nothing can be more natural than this figure. Above Our Lady, are hovering, angels in the form of children, they hold a canopy over her head and are exceedingly graceful and beautiful. This picture also, having been too heavily loaded with dark tints has become excessively dark, but for which it would be indeed most admirable. ”

“ In the distance are seen small figures representing Women who are approaching to visit the Madonna. This picture was afterwards presented by the Duke to the Signora Isabella Buschetta, whose portrait, which is a very beautiful one, was taken by Giulio in a little picture not more than a braccio high, which is now in the possession of the Signor Vespasiano Gonzaga, with another, presented to him by the Duke Federigo and also by the hand of Giulio, representing a Youth affectionately caressing a maiden, while an old woman is secretly observing them from behind a door ”

“ This master was of a most obliging disposition, more particularly towards his friends; there was no mark of kindness, and even of affection, which Giorgio did not receive at his hands; and Vasari, on his part, having departed from Mantua, and proceeding to Venice, had thence returned to Rome exactly at the time when Michelagnolo had uncovered his Last Judgment in the chapel, sent Giulio three plates of the Seven Mortal Sins, taken from the above-named Last Judgment of Michelagnolo. ”

“ In another part of the picture also, are still more giants, on whom are falling temples, columns, and other fragments of buildings, making an immense slaughter and destruction of those proud assailants of the gods. ”

“ Rinaldo and Giovan-Battista of Mantua, and Fermo Guisoni, who is still living in Mantua, and does honour to his master, seeing that he is an excellent painter. [73] The same may be said of Benedetto of Pescia, who has produced many works in his native city, with a picture for the Cathedral of Pisa, which is now in the house of the Wardens of works. Benedetto has likewise painted a picture of the Madonna, and this work gives proof of a truly poetical invention ”