reverence. In the figure of Octavian, Niccolò Soggi has given the portrait of Messer Giuliano Bacci, and m that of a tall youth wearing a red vestment, is the likeness of his disciple Domenico Giuntalocchi, other portraits of the artist’s friends also appear in this work;[1] and upon the whole he acquitted himself in such a manner as respected the picture, that he did not displease the men of that company nor the other inhabitants of the city.
It is true that every one was tired of seeing him so long over his work and labouring so painfully with all that he did, but notwithstanding that circumstance he would without doubt have been appointed to complete the remainder, had not this been prevented by the arrival in Arezzo of the distinguished Florentine painter, II Rosso, to whom, as being put forward by the Aretine painter Giovan Antonio Lappoli, and by Messer Giovanni Pollastra, as we have related elsewhere,[2] the whole of the work remaining was adjudged, with various marks of favour. This displeased Niccolò Soggi so greatly, that if he had not taken a wife the year before, and then become the father of a son, for which cause he was fixed in Arezzo, there is no question but that he would have instantly departed from the place.
Finally, however, he became pacified, and proceeded to execute a painting for the church of Sargiano, a place situate at the distance of two miles from Arezzo, and where a community of Barefooted Friars have their abode. In this picture is the Virgin received into heaven, whither she is borne by numerous angels in the form of boys; beneath is St. Thomas receiving the girdle, and standing around are San Francesco, San Ludovico, San Giovanni Battista, and Sant’ Elizabetta, queen of Hungary. In some of these figures, but more especially in certain of the children, Niccolò Soggi acquitted himself exceedingly well, as he did also in the predella, where he painted certain stories, the figures of which are small and tolerably well done. In the convent of the Nuns of the Murate in that city, who are of the same order with the Barefooted Friars, our artist also painted a Dead
