his care by Duke.Cosimo, the painting of the Cupola of Santa Maria del Fiore, in Florence, namely, for the continuance of which Rome was at that moment a most commodious residence, since Vasari had there the Ceiling and other works of Michelagnolo, and in effect his letters soon began to make mention of a commencement of the Cartoons for the Cupola. His Holiness, meanwhile, resolved to have three Pictures painted in the Sala Regia, which should immortalize the memory of an event in which he had taken an essential part, the Battle of Lepanto namely; but the Cartoon for the third of these was not more than half completed* when Vasari was called on to begin the sketches of two other pictures for the same Pontiff; one of these represents the Magdalen borne to Heaven by Angels; the other, St. Jerome extracting the Thorn from the Foot of the Lion. The death of Pope Pius interrupted these labours, and Vasari returned to Florence, reposing for some days at Arezzo on his way, and writing thence to the Prince Francesco, to the effect that he was returning to his service in the expectation that he (the Prince) would close his eyes; the master sent at the same time the Cartoons which he had prepared for the Cupola.
In October of the same year, 1572, we find Vasari occupied in various labours for the Duke. He designed a Palace for him at the Capraia, in the Pisan territory, a small Church at Colle Mingoli, and some Fountains at the Castello. His preparations for painting the Cupola still continued, but he was at this time much disquieted by the fear of a summons to Rome; and in effect a letter from the Cardinal Buoncompagno soon announced to him that the new Pontiff, Gregory XIII., required his assistance for continuing those works of the Sala Regia, which he had already commenced; wherefore he was enjoined* to transport himself to Rome with liis best speed. Always anxious to gratify the Pontiff, the Duke opposed no resistance, but despatched his Giorgio to Rome with orders to obey Pope Gregory in all things, and expressing his satisfaction that the Holy Father “should have service from his men”—the phrase invariably used by Duke Cosimo on similar occasions.
Vasari deferred his departure nevertheless, being very nota [1]
- ↑ A minute description of these paintings, written by Vasari himself, in a letter to the Prince Francesco, and dated February 2nd, 1572, will be found in Gaye, ut supra, see vol. iii. p. 307—309.
