likewise executed portraits from the life of the Cardinalvicar, Giovanni de’ Medici, who was afterwards P#pe Leo X., of Cardinal Antonio de’ Monte, and the Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, who ultimately became Pope Paul III., with those of many other personages.[1]
The pope was highly satisfied with all that was done; and to the end that the wood-work of the apartment should be worthy of the paintings, he caused Fra Giovanni of Verona to be summoned from the convent of Monte Oliveto di Chiusuri, a monastery in the territory of Siena; Fra Giovanni was a renowned master in works representing perspective views of buildings, formed of woods inlaid; and he not only prepared the wainscot around the room, but also made very beautiful doors and seats, richly decorated in the perspective ornaments for which he was famed, and which acquired for him very great honour, with much favour from the Pope, who rewarded him very liberally.
It is indeed certain that in works of this kind there has never been a more able master than Fra Giovanni, a fact to which we have testimony still in his native city of Verona; this is presented by the Sacristy of Santa Maria-in-Organo, which is most beautifully adorned with inlaid work representing views in perspective.[2] The choir of Monte Oliveto di Chiusuri afibrds another proof of his skill, as does that of San Benedetto di Siena: the Sacristy of Monte Oliveto di Napoli was in like manner adorned by Fra Giovanni, and in the same place is the Chapel of Paolo da Tolosa, which that master also decorated in wood work.[3] By all these labours he obtained much honour from those of his order, by whom he was ever held in the highest estimation until his death, which took place in 1537, when he had attained the age of sixtyeight. Now of this master, as of a person who was truly excellent and remarkable in his art, I have thought it well to make mention thus far, for it appears to me that his talent has well merited so much, seeing that we are indebted to it
- ↑ See Passavant, vol. ii. p. 109.
- ↑ Fra Giovanni was an architect also. The Campanile of the abovementioned church of Santa Maria-in-Organo was built after his design.— Masselli.
- ↑ These decorations in wood-work are said to have been destroyed in 1527, when Rome was plundered, as our readers will remember; an event which took place in the pontificate of Clement VII.
