ted the altar-piece to Bronzino,
to the end that he might paint in it Christ descended into the Limbo of
Hell in order to deliver the Holy Fathers. Agnolo, then, having set his
hand to it, executed that work with the utmost possible diligence that
one can use who desires to acquire glory by such a labour; wherefore
there are in it most beautiful nudes, men, women, and children, young
and old, with different features and attitudes, and portraits of men
that are very natural, among which are Jacopo da Pontormo, Giovan
Battista Gello, a passing famous Academician of Florence, and the
painter Bacchiacca, of whom we have spoken above. And among the women he
portrayed there two noble and truly most beautiful young women of
Florence, worthy of eternal praise and memory for their incredible
beauty and virtue, Madonna Costanza da Sommaia, wife of Giovan Battista
Doni, who is still living, and Madonna Camilla Tedaldi del Corno, who
has now passed to a better life. Not long afterwards he executed another
large and very beautiful altar-picture of the Resurrection of Jesus
Christ, which was placed in the Chapel of Jacopo and Filippo Guadagni
beside the choir in the Church of the Servites--that is, the Nunziata.
And at this same time he painted the altar-piece that was placed in the
chapel of the Palace, whence there had been removed that which was sent
to Granvella; which altar-piece is certainly a most beautiful picture,
and worthy of that place. Bronzino then painted for Signor Alamanno
Salviati a Venus with a Satyr beside her, so beautiful as to appear in
truth Venus Goddess of Beauty.

[Illustration: CHRIST IN LIMBO

(_After the panel by =Angelo Bronzino=. Florence: Uffizi, 1271_)

_Anderson_]

Having then gone to Pisa, whither he was summoned by the Duke, he
executed some portraits for his Excellency; and for Luca Martini, who
was very much his friend, and not of him only, but also attached with
true affection to all men of talent, he painted a very beautiful picture
of Our Lady, in which he portrayed that Luca with a basket of fruits,
from his having been the minister and proveditor for the said Lord Duke
in the draining of the marshes and other waters that rendered unhealthy
the country round Pisa, and for having made it in consequence fertile
and abundant in fruits. Nor did Bronzino depart from Pisa before there
was allotted to him at the instance of Martini, by Raffaello del
Setaiuolo, the Warden of Works of the Duomo,