Giorgio Vasari

“ It is true that there was no man who would do more than Niccolò, as regarded the labours of art, nor was there one who worked with more love and diligence, and as he knew that none. . . . [12] he could never for many years persuade himself that others surpassed him in excellence. In this work, then, we have a figure of the Almighty Father, sending the crown of chastity and humility to the Madonna by the hands of angels, who surround the Virgin, some of them playing various instruments. ”

“ Three Angels, singing as they hover in the air, are also executed in so good a manner, that they would of themselves suffice to prove the ability of Niccolb Soggi, and to give evidence of the patient endurance with which he laboured at this work even to the last. ”

“ No long time afterwards, Don Ferrante Gonzaga having also died, Domenico Giuntalocchi left Milan, with the intention of returning to Prato, there to live quietly for the remainder of his life, but not finding there either friends or relations, and perceiving that Prato was no place for him, he repented when too late of having conducted himself in so ungrateful a manner towards Niccolò Soggi, and returned to Lombardy, there to serve the sons of Don Ferrante. ”

“ In theyear 1512, and after having painted numerous pictures of the Virgin for the houses of the citizens, [2] with other works of minor importance, such as are in daily request, Niccolo Soggi heard that great things were in process of accomplishment in Rome, wherefore, desiring much to improve in his art, and thinking also that he might obtain the means of laying aside some money by his project, he departed from Florence, and repaired at once to Rome. ”

“ After these works Niceolo departed from Prato, where dwelt a young artist, a native of that place, Domenico Giuntalocchi namely, who had studied the principles of the art of painting under his discipline, but although a youth of good genius, yet, having acquired the manner of Niceolo Soggi, he never attained to much distinction in painting, as will be shown hereafter. ”

“ The whole work may, nevertheless, be considered labour lost, since the strength of the tempera has caused it to peel away; but this Niccolo hazarded for the sake of trying new methods. Ultimately he acknowledged that the true mode of mural painting, was to work in fresco, and seizing the first opportunity that presented itself, he undertook to paint in fresco a chapel in the church of Sant’ Agostino in that city; [7] the chapel, which is beside the door namely, and to the left of him who enters the church. ”

“ The first work performed by Xiccolb after the death of his master Pietro, was a picture in oil, which was destined to adorn the back of an altar in the Plospital for Women, founded by Bonifazio Lupi, in the Via Sangallo, at Florence. The subject chosen was an Annunciation, and there is a building in this picture drawn in perspective, and exhibiting arches and a groined ceiling rising above the columns, after the manner of Pietro Perugino. ”

“ The picture was painted by commission from the Cardinal di Monte before-named, who was Titular of Santa Prassedia, and by whose command it was placed over an altar in the midst of that church, beneath which is a well filled with the blood of the Holy Martyrs; [3] and this site was chosen with much judgment, since the picture alludes to the place where the blood of those martyrs was shed. ”