aments in forty-eight spaces for the
forty-eight celestial signs; and on six walls down the length of that
refectory, under the windows, which were made larger and richly
ornamented, I painted six of the Parables of Jesus Christ which are in
keeping with that place; and to all those pictures and ornaments there
correspond the carvings of the seats, which are wrought very richly. And
then I executed for the high-altar of the church an altar-picture eight
braccia high, containing the Madonna presenting the Infant Jesus Christ
to Simeon in the Temple, with a new invention. It is a notable thing
that since Giotto there had not been up to that time, in a city so great
and noble, any masters who had done anything of importance in painting,
although there had been brought there from without some things by the
hands of Perugino and Raffaello. On which account I exerted myself to
labour in such a manner, in so far as my little knowledge could reach,
that the intellects of that country might be roused to execute great and
honourable works; and, whether that or some other circumstance may have
been the reason, between that time and the present day many very
beautiful works have been done there, both in stucco and in painting.
Besides the pictures described above, I executed in fresco on the
vaulting of the strangers' apartment in the same monastery, with figures
large as life, Jesus Christ with the Cross on His shoulder, and many of
His Saints who have one likewise on their shoulders in imitation of Him,
to demonstrate that for one who wishes truly to follow Him it is
necessary to bear with good patience the adversities that the world
inflicts. For the General of that Order I executed a great picture of
Christ appearing to the Apostles as they struggled with the perils of
the sea, and taking S. Peter by the arm, who, having hastened towards
Him through the water, was fearing to drown; and in another picture, for
Abbot Capeccio, I painted the Resurrection. These works carried to
completion, I painted a chapel in fresco for the Lord Don Pietro di
Toledo, Viceroy of Naples, in his garden at Pozzuolo, besides executing
some very delicate ornaments in stucco; and arrangements had been made
to execute two great loggie for the same lord, but the undertaking was
not carried into effect, for the following reason. There had been some
difference between the Viceroy and the above-named monks, and the
Constable went with his men to the monastery