stament which they executed in the lunettes between the
spandrels of the vaulting. Indeed, to speak more exactly, almost the
whole of this work was by the hand of Cristofano, Vasari having done
nothing therein beyond making certain sketches, designing some parts
on the plaster, and then retouching it at times in various places,
according as it was necessary.

This work finished, which is not otherwise than grand, worthy of
praise, and very well executed, by reason of the great variety of
things that are in it, they both returned to Florence in the month of
January of the year 1555. There, having taken in hand the Hall of the
Elements, while Vasari was painting the pictures of the ceiling,
Cristofano executed some devices that bind together the friezes of the
beams in perpendicular lines, in which are heads of capricorns and
tortoises with the sail, devices of his Excellency. But the works in
which he showed himself most marvellous were some festoons of fruits
that are in the friezes of the beams on the under side, which are so
beautiful that there is nothing better coloured or more natural to be
seen, particularly because they are separated one from another by
certain masks, that hold in their mouths the ligatures of the
festoons, than which one would not be able to find any more varied or
more bizarre; in which manner of work it may be said that Cristofano
was superior to any other who has ever made it his principal and
particular profession. This done, he painted some large figures on
that part of the walls where there is the Birth of Venus, but after
the cartoons of Vasari, and many little figures in a landscape, which
were executed very well. In like manner, on the wall where there are
the Loves as tiny little children, fashioning the arrows of Cupid, he
painted the three Cyclopes forging thunderbolts for Jove. Over six
doors he executed in fresco six large ovals with ornaments in
chiaroscuro and containing scenes in the colour of bronze, which were
very beautiful; and in the same hall, between the windows, he painted
in colours a Mercury and a Pluto, which are likewise very beautiful.

Work being then begun in the Chamber of the Goddess Ops, which is
next to that described above, he painted the four Seasons in fresco on
the ceiling, and, in addition to the figures, some festoons that were
marvellous in their variety and beauty, for the reason that, even as
those of Spring were filled with a thousand kinds of flowe