to Florence, and there executed that altar-picture. Now, having to
give a proof of my powers in Florence, where I had not yet executed such
a work, and having many rivals, and also a desire to acquire a name, I
resolved that I would do my utmost in that work and put into it all the
diligence that I might find possible. And in order to be able to do that
free from every vexatious thought, I first married my third sister and
bought a house already begun in Arezzo, with a site for making most
beautiful gardens, in the Borgo di S. Vito, in the best air of that
city. In October, then, of the year 1540, I began the altar-picture for
Messer Bindo, proposing to paint in it a scene that should represent the
Conception of Our Lady, according to the title of the chapel; which
subject presenting no little difficulty to me, Messer Bindo and I took
the opinions of many common friends, men of learning, and finally I
executed it in the following manner. Having depicted the Tree of the
Primal Sin in the middle of the picture, I painted at its roots Adam and
Eve naked and bound, as the first transgressors of the commandment of
God, and then one by one, bound to the other branches, Abraham, Isaac,
Jacob, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, David, and the other Kings in succession,
according to the order of time; all, I say, bound by both arms,
excepting Samuel and John the Baptist, who are bound by one arm only,
because they were blessed in the womb. I painted there, also, with the
tail wound about the trunk of the Tree, the Ancient Serpent, who, having
a human form from the middle upwards, has the hands bound behind; and
upon his head, treading upon his horns, is one foot of the glorious
Virgin, who has the other on a Moon, being herself all clothed with the
Sun, and crowned with twelve stars. The Virgin, I say, is supported in
the air, within a Splendour, by many nude little Angels, who are
illumined by the rays that come from her; which rays, likewise, passing
through the leaves of the Tree, shed light upon those bound to it, and
appear to be loosing their bonds by means of the virtue and grace that
they bring from her from whom they proceed. And in the heaven, at the
top of the picture, are two children that are holding certain scrolls,
in which are written these words: QUOS EVAE CULPA DAMNAVIT, MARIAE GRATIA
SOLVIT. In short, so far as I can remember, I had not executed any work
up to that time with more study or with more lovingness and labour; but