Then came the deplorable sack and plunder of Rome, in the year 1527, and the unfortunate Baldassare was made prisoner by the Spaniards; when not only did he lose all that he possessed, but he was also grievously maltreated and tormented by them: for it so chanced that Baldassare, being a man of a noble, grave, and commanding aspect, was believed by them to be some great prelate or other man of high rank in disguise, and one who could pay an enormous ransom. Finally, however, those most impious barbarians discovered that he was indeed a painter, and one of them, who was a devoted adherent of the Constable de Bourbon, compelled our artist to take the portrait of that reprobate commander, the enemy of God and of all good men; either by showing him his corpse, dead as he was, or by some other means, perhaps by giving him drawings of the face or describing it in words: enough, they compelled him to make the portrait.
Having escaped at length from the hands of the Spaniards, Baldassare took ship to go to Porta Escole, proposing to proceed thence to Siena; but on the way he was so effectually plundered, so completely stripped, and despoiled of every thing, that he entered Siena deprived of all but his shirt. He was nevertheless honourably received and clothed anew by his friends; nor did any long time elapse before he entered the service of the Republic, and was appointed superintendent of all works connected with the fortifications of the city.[1] While thus residing in Siena, two sons were born to Baldassare; he was employed, as we have said, in the public service,[2] and made numerous designs moreover for the houses of his fellow citizens, as he did that for the organ of the Church of the Carmine,[3] which is exceedingly beautiful.
- ↑ The decrees by which he was appointed may be seen, with many other details respecting this period, in Gaye, Carteggio, &c.
- ↑ See Gaye, as above cited, where will be also found the appointment of Baldassare as architect of the Church of the Immaculate Conception, then projected by the Signoria of Siena, with many other particulars of much interest, but which cannot here find place.
- ↑ Vasari here repeats what he has previously said, while he omits to mention many of the best works executed by llaldassare at this period; the beautiful High Altar, and the Chapel of St. John the Baptist, in the Cathedral of Siena, for example; the Villa Belcaro, near that city; the fine portal of the Sacrati Palace in Ferrara, and many others, which are noticed by Mancini, and by Della Valle, Lettere Sanesi.
