In Venice, Francesco painted the portrait of Messer Alessandro Contarino, procurator of St. Mark’s, and proveditor of the fleet and armj, with that of Messer Michele San Michele, the last being executed for one of Messer Michele’s dearest friends, who took it with him to Orvieto. It is said, too, that he took another likeness of the same Messer Michele the architect,[1] which last is now in the possession of Messer Paolo Ramusio, son of Messer Giovanni Battista.[2] Francesco likewise depicted the renowned poet, Fracastoro, and this he did at the instance of Monsignor Giberti, bj whom it was presented to Giovio, and the latter placed it in his museum. II Moro executed many other works, of which I do not make mention, although they are all entirely worthy of a memorial, seeing that this master was as careful a colourist as any artist living at his time, and bestowed much time and labour on all his works; nay, so great was the diligence of II Moro, that he sometimes incurred blame—as is even yet occasionally seen to happen—because he would accept all the works that were offered him, permitted himself to receive earnest money for all, and then brought the work to conclusion when it pleased God. And if he did this in his youth, we may leave every one to imagine what he was likely to do in his last years, when the tediousness which naturally supervenes with old age was added to his accustomed tardiness; in effect H Moro brought many embarrassments upon himself by this mode of proceeding, and involved himself in more disputes than he would willingly have encountered. Wherefore, Messer Michele San Michele, moved to compassion by these his troubles, took him into his own house, in Venice, and treated him as a friend and distinguished artist.
Finally, being reealled by his ancient patrons, the Giusti, to Verona, II Moro died, no long time after his return to that city, in their beautiful palace of Santa Maria in Stella. He was buried in the church of that domain, being accompanied by all those most friendly nobles to his tomb; nay, rather laid therein with their own hands, and with the utmost
