practised colourist and obtained much power in composition, as well as a fine and varied manner, he was invited by the above-named Cardinal to Augsburg, where he continues to execute works of great merit.
Highly distinguished in many respects among the artists of Romagna is Marco da Faenza (for so, and no otherwise, is he called),[1] who has indeed extraordinary facility in fresco; bold, resolute, and powerful, he excels most of our young artists, especially in grottesche, not having an equal in the present day, or any one who can approach the perfection of his works in that kind. The labours of this artist may be found in all parts of Rome, and the greater portion of the ornaments in at least twenty rooms of the Ducal Palace in Plorence are by this artist, with the decorations of the ceiling in the Great Hall, painted by Giorgio Vasari, as will be related in the proper place. The ornaments prepared in the Great Court for the coming of the Queen Joanna, and executed in a very short time were also for the most part by his hand. And this shall suffice me to have said of Marco, since he is still living, is making admirable progress, and in the best of his activity.
At Parma, and in the service of the Duke Ottaviano Farnese, there is now a painter called Miruolo, also, as I believe, of Romagna,[2] who, besides works executed in Rome, has painted many stories in fresco, at a small palace which the above-mentioned Signor Duke has erected within the fortifications of Parma, and where there are some Fountains constructed in a graceful manner by Giovanni Boscoli, a sculptor of Montepulciano. This Giovanni, after having worked in stucco for many years with Vasari in the Palace of Duke Cosimo at Florence, has ultimately settled at Parma in the service of the Signor Duke, who has given him a handsome stipend. Here this artist is still producing works of great beauty, and worthy of his admirable genius. In these same cities and districts there are many other good and noble artists, but since they are young, we will defer to a more convenient season the honourable mention which their works shall have merited.
And this shall be the end of the works of the Abbot Primaticcio, but I will add that, he having made a Portrait
