Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/416

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lives of the artists.

a story in fresco, in the Loggia of the Piazza where the courts are held. This commission he accepted willingly, although Titian had himself painted a picture representing the Judgment of Solomon in that place; and having executed a story of Noah and his Sons, Paris was considered to have acquitted himself extremely well, both as regarded design and execution, insomuch that the work, being no less beautiful than that of Titian, both are considered by those who do not know the truth to be by the same hand.[1]

Having returned to Venice, Bordone painted certain nude figures at the foot of the Rialto; and, after this proof of his ability, he was employed to decorate the Parades of many houses in Venice. He was then invited to Treviso, where he also executed numerous Parades and other works, more particularly Portraits. Among these was that of the illustrious Messer Alberto Unigo, with those of Messer Marco Serravalle, Messer Prancesco da Quer, the Canon Rovere, and Monsignore Alberti. In the Cathedral of that city he painted a picture at the request of the Signor Vicar; it is in the middle of the church, and represents the Birth of Christ. This being completed, he painted a Resurrection of Our Lord in like manner. In the Church of San Prancesco he painted a picture for the Cavaliere Rovere, with another in San Girolamo, and one in Ognissanti, exhibiting varied heads of Saints, male and female. These are all beautiful, and display much variety in the attitudes and vestments.[2] There is also a picture, by the hand of Paris, in the Church of San Lorenzo; and in San Polo he painted three ehapels: in the principal of these he represented the Resurrection of Christ; the figures are as large as life, and are accompanied by a vast number of Angels. In the second chapel he painted Saints with Angels around them; and in the third, is Our Saviour Christ in the air with Our Lady, who presents San Domenico to her Divine Son. All these works have made Bordone known as an able painter, and a citizen firmly attached to his native place.

In Venice, where he has almost always lived, he has executed numerous works at various times; but the most

  1. These works have both perished. —Bottari.
  2. This story is now in the Venetian Academy, as is that of the Fisherman mentioned below. See Zanotto, La Pinacoieca Veneta.