specified by the ting, and that at which he ought to have returned, had come and passed, he found himself at the end, not only of his own money, but what with building, indulging himself in various pleasures and doing no work, of that belonging to the French monarch also, the whole of which he had consumed. He was nevertheless determined to return to France, but the prayers and tears of his wife had more power than his own necessities, or the faith which he had pledged to the king: he remained therefore in Florence, and the French monarch was so greatly angered thereby, that for a long time after he would not look at the paintings of Florentine masters, and declared that if Andrea ever fell into his hands he would have no regard whatever to the distinction of his endowments, but would do him more harm than he had before done him good. Andrea del Sarto remained in Florence therefore, as we have said, and from a highly eminent position he sank to the very lowest, procuring a livelihood and passing his time as he best might.
When Andrea had left Florence for France, the Confraternity of the Barefooted Brethren, in the conviction that he would never return, had made over all the paintings still remaining unfinished in their cloister to Franciabigio, who had already completed two stories therein.[1] But seeing that Andrea had returned to Florence, the brethren determined that he should resume his labours, and he painted four pictures accordingly in a consecutive series. In the first of these is St. John led before Herod; in the second is the Supper, and the Dance of Herodias, with figures grouped with much ability, and of highly appropriate character; in the third is the beheading of St. John, and in this work the principal executioner, who is partly undraped, is an admirably drawn figure, as indeed are all the others. In the fourth, Herodias holds the head of the Baptist, and in this picture certain figures, whose countenances express their surprise at what they behold, are painted with much thought and ability. These paintings were for some time the study and school of many young men who are now very eminent in our arts.[2]
