Giorgio Vasari

“ In the third picture, Simon has painted the saint returned after seven years absence from beyond the seas. He has passed thrice forty days in the Holy Land, and is now standing in the choir attending Divine service; a number of singing boys are near; the saint is here tempted by the devil, but the fiend is driven away by the firm determination not to offend the laws of God, which is manifested in Ranieri. who is aided by a figure which Simon meant to represent Constancy. ”

“ There are besides other heretics, who having been convinced in disputation with the faithful, confess their errors, and tear their books. The souls of these pass the gates of Paradise, within which are seen many small figures, employed in various occupations. ”

“ These are indeed rapidly perishing, and must finally be lost, while the works of Petrarch shall survive to all eternity Simon Memmi of Siena was nevertheless an excellent painter, highly distinguished in his day, and greatly esteemed at the court of the Pope. In so much that, after the death of his master Giotto, whom he had accompanied to Rome, at the time when the latter executed the Navicella in mosaic and other works, he attained high credit for his successful imitation of that artist’s manner. ”

“ In heaven, the glory of the Saints and of Jesus Christ is given to view, while all mundane pleasures and vain delights remain in the world below, being represented by human forms, but especially by those of women seated. ”

“ The latter artist did not attain to the excellence of Simon, but nevertheless imitated his manner to the best of his ability, and painted numerous frescoes in the church of Santa Croce at Florence. [20] He also executed the picture of the high altar in the church of Santa Caterina at Pisa for the preaching friars, [21] and in San Paolo a Ripa d’Arno, besides many good frescoes. Lippo Memmi painted the picture in distemper which is now on the high altar. The subject of this work is the Virgin, with St. Peter, St. Paul, St. John the Baptist, and other Saints, and on this Lippo placed his name. ”

“ On the third wall, which is that where the altar stands, the artist represented the Crucifixion of Christ, who is first seen issuing from the city of Jerusalem bearing his Cross, and followed by a vast crowd of people. ”

“ May not Vasari, who is not always rigidly precise in the arrangement of his words, here mean to say, “ Giotto his master, and Buonamico”? ↑ This picture is still in existence, but has, unhappily, been somewhat changed by restorations. ↑ This picture has been restored to such an extent, that little of Simon’s work now remains. ↑ In this part of the work, the vestments of Ranieri only have been retouched; but the ground has suffered greatly, and the colours are perishing daily. ”

“ The scene is laid in Palestine; and there are no boys, neither is there any female figure. ↑ Scarcely a trace of these frescoes now remains, nor do we know what has become of the picture. ↑ This work also is most probably lost. ↑ The chapel has been destroyed. The fate of the picture is unknown. ↑ The Necrologia of Siena records that Simon Memmi died at Avignon, in July 1344. ”