sible, and the whole work would have
been brighter and richer. There remained no more of the work to be
executed than he would have been able to finish in a fortnight, going
over it again in certain places, when there came the news of the death
of Pope Clement, and Giovanni was robbed of all his hopes, particularly
of that which he expected from that Pontiff as the reward and guerdon of
this work. Wherefore, having recognized, although too late, how
fallacious in most cases are the hopes based on the favour of Courts,
and how often those who put their trust in the lives of particular
Princes are left disappointed, he returned to Rome; but, although he
would have been able to live there on his offices and revenues, serving
also Cardinal Ippolito de' Medici and the new Pontiff, Paul III, he
resolved to repatriate himself and to return to Udine.
Carrying that intention into effect, therefore, he went back to live in
his native place with that brother to whom he had given the canonicate,
determined that he would never more handle a brush. But in this also he
was disappointed, for the reason that, having taken a wife and had
children by her, he was in a manner forced by the instinct that a man
naturally feels to bring up his children and to leave them in good
circumstances, to set himself once more to work. He painted, then, at
the entreaty of the father of the Chevalier Giovan Francesco di
Spilimbergo, a frieze in a hall, filling it with children, festoons,
fruits, and other things of fancy. After that, he adorned with lovely
paintings and works in stucco the Chapel of S. Maria at Civitale; and
for the Canons of the Duomo of that place he executed two most beautiful
standards. And for the Confraternity of S. Maria di Castello, at Udine,
he painted on a rich banner Our Lady with the Child in her arms, and an
Angel full of grace who is offering to her that Castello, which stands
on a hill in the centre of the city. At Venice, in the Palace of
Grimani, the Patriarch of Aquileia, he decorated with stucco-work and
paintings a very beautiful chamber in which are some lovely little
scenes by the hand of Francesco Salviati.
Finally, in the year 1550, Giovanni went to Rome to take part in the
most holy Jubilee, on foot and dressed poorly as a pilgrim, and in the
company of humble folk; and he stayed there many days without being
known by anyone. But one day, while going to S. Paolo, he was recognized
by Giorgio Vasari, who was ri
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