door namely, and to the left of him who enters the church. In this chapel, the commission for which Niccolb received from one Scamarra, a maker of furnaces, our artist painted a figure of the Madonna seen in the air, with the people of a city beneath, and San Domenico and San Francesco, both kneeling: but the best part of all that he did in this chapel, was a figure of San Kocco, which he depicted on the front thereof.[1]
Now it chanced that the Aretine, Domenico Ricciardi, was greatly pleased with the chapel above-mentioned, and possessing one himself in the church of the Madonna delle Lagrime, he gave the altar-piece of the same to be painted by Niccolb, who, having laid hand to the work, depicted the Nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ therein, executing the picture with infinite care and forethought; it is true, that he loitered a long time over it, but he finished it so finely that his delays may be excused: nay, rather, he merits very great commendation, seeing that the work is indeed a very beautiful one. The pains he has taken with every part are indeed almost incredible, the most minute trifles offer evidence of careful consideration; a ruined building painted in perspective, close beside the cabin wherein are the Divine Child and the Virgin, may be more particularly mentioned:[2] the heads of San Giuseppe likewise, with some others in this work, may be enumerated as portraits taken from the life: the painter, Stagio[3] Sassoli, a friend of Niccolb, with Papino della Pieve, his disciple, are among the number. Of the latter it may be remarked that, had he not died young, he would, without doubt, have done the greatest honour both to himself and his country. Three Angels, singing as they hover in the air, are also executed in so good a manner, that they would of themselves suffice to prove the ability of Niccolb Soggi, and to give evidence of the patient endurance with which he laboured at this work even to the last.
Niccolò had no sooner completed this chapel of the Madonna delle Lagrime, than he received an application from
