, that even to excellent craftsmen it
appears to be in relief. And I remember that when I took the Chevalier
Tiziano, a most excellent and honoured painter, to see that work, he
would by no means believe that it was painted, until he had changed his
point of view, when he was struck with amazement. In that place are some
works executed by Fra Sebastiano Viniziano, in his first manner; and by
the hand of the divine Raffaello, as has been related, there is a
Galatea being carried off by sea-gods.

[Illustration: PALAZZO DELLA FARNESINA

(_After_ Baldassarre Peruzzi. _Rome_)

_Alinari_]

Baldassarre also painted, beyond the Campo di Fiore, on the way to the
Piazza Giudea, a most beautiful facade in terretta with marvellous
perspectives, for which he received the commission from a Groom of the
Chamber to the Pope; and it is now in the possession of Jacopo Strozzi,
the Florentine. In like manner, he wrought for Messer Ferrando Ponzetti,
who afterwards became a Cardinal, a chapel at the entrance of the Church
of the Pace, on the left hand, with little scenes from the Old
Testament, and also with some figures of considerable size; and for a
work in fresco this is executed with much diligence. But even more did
he prove his worth in painting and perspective near the high-altar of
the same church, where he painted a scene for Messer Filippo da Siena,
Clerk of the Chamber, of Our Lady going into the Temple, ascending the
steps, with many figures worthy of praise, such as a gentleman in
antique dress, who, having dismounted from his horse, with his servants
waiting, is giving alms to a beggar, quite naked and very wretched, who
may be seen asking him for it with pitiful humility. In this place,
also, are various buildings and most beautiful ornaments; and right
round the whole work, executed likewise in fresco, are counterfeited
decorations of stucco, which have the appearance of being attached to
the wall with large rings, as if it were a panel painted in oils.

And in the magnificent festival that the Roman people prepared on the
Campidoglio when the baton of Holy Church was given to Duke Giuliano de'
Medici, out of six painted scenes which were executed by six different
painters of eminence, that by the hand of Baldassarre, twenty-eight
braccia high and fourteen broad, showing the betrayal of the Romans by
Julia Tarpeia, was judged to be without a doubt better than any of the
others. But what amazed everyone most was the p