Evangelists, S. Luke and S. Matthew, between them two little boys that
are holding a candelabrum, and, on the arch of the wall that contains
the window, two Angels standing poised on their wings in the act of
flight, who are holding in their hands the Mysteries of the Passion of
Jesus Christ; and he adorned the arch richly with grotesques and little
naked figures of great beauty. In short, he acquitted himself
marvellously well in all that work, although he took a considerable time
over it.

[Illustration: THE DESCENT FROM THE CROSS

(_After the fresco by =Daniello Ricciarelli=. Rome: SS. Trinita dei
Monti_)

_Anderson_]

The same Perino having then caused Daniello to execute a frieze in the
hall of the Palace of M. Agnolo Massimi, with many divisions in stucco
and other ornaments, and stories of the actions of Fabius Maximus, he
bore himself so well, that Signora Elena Orsina, having seen that work
and hearing the ability of Daniello much extolled, commissioned him to
paint her chapel in the Church of the Trinita in Rome, on the hill,
where the Friars of S. Francesco di Paola have their seat. Wherefore
Daniello, putting forth all possible effort and diligence, in order to
produce a rare work which might make him known as an excellent painter,
did not shrink from devoting to it the labour of many years. From the
name of that lady, the title given to the chapel being that of the Cross
of Christ Our Saviour, the subject chosen was that of the actions of S.
Helen; and so in the principal altar-piece Daniello painted Jesus Christ
taken down from the Cross by Joseph, Nicodemus, and other disciples, and
the Virgin Mary in a swoon, supported on the arms of the Magdalene and
the other Maries, in all which he showed very great judgment, and gave
proof of very rare ability, for the reason that, besides the composition
of the figures, which has a very rich effect, the figure of Christ is
very fine and most beautifully foreshortened, with the feet coming
forward and the rest backwards. Very beautiful and difficult, likewise,
are the foreshortenings in the figures of those who, having removed Him
from the Cross, support Him with some bands, standing on some ladders
and revealing in certain parts the nude flesh, executed with much
grace. Around that altar-piece he made an ornament in stucco-work of
great beauty and variety, full of carvings, with two figures that
support the pediment with their heads, while with one hand they ho