painted a great number of scenes on a
facade in the Piazza di S. Luigi de' Francesi at Rome, such as the Death
of Caesar, a Triumph of Justice, and a battle of horsemen in a frieze,
executed with spirit and much diligence; and in this work, close to the
roof, between the windows, he painted some Virtues that are very well
wrought. In like manner, on the facade of the Epifani, behind the Curia
di Pompeo, and near the Campo di Fiore, he painted the Magi following
the Star; with an endless number of other works throughout that city,
the air and position of which seem to be in great measure the reason
that men are inspired to produce marvellous works there. Experience
teaches us, indeed, that very often the same man has not the same manner
and does not produce work of equal excellence in every place, but makes
it better or worse according to the nature of the place.

[Illustration: THE BIRTH OF THE VIRGIN

(_After the fresco by =Vincenzio da San Gimignano [Vincenzio Tamagni]=.
San Gimignano: S. Agostino_)

_Brogi_]

Vincenzio being in very good repute in Rome, there took place in the
year 1527 the ruin and sack of that unhappy city, which had been the
mistress of the nations. Whereupon, grieved beyond measure, he returned
to his native city of San Gimignano; and there, by reason of the
sufferings that he had undergone, and the weakening of his love for art,
now that he was away from the air which nourishes men of fine genius and
makes them bring forth works of the rarest merit, he painted some things
that I will pass over in silence, in order not to veil with them the
renown and the great name that he had honourably acquired in Rome. It is
enough to point out clearly that violence turns the most lofty
intellects roughly aside from their chief goal, and makes them direct
their steps into the opposite path; which may also be seen in a
companion of Vincenzio, called Schizzone, who executed some works in the
Borgo that were highly extolled, and also in the Campo Santo of Rome and
in S. Stefano degl' Indiani, and who was likewise caused by the
senseless soldiery to turn aside from art and in a short time to
lose his life. Vincenzio died in his native city of San Gimignano,
having had but little gladness in his life after his departure from
Rome.

[Illustration: MADONNA AND SAINTS, WITH A CHILD ANGEL

(_After the painting by =Timoteo da Urbino [Timoteo della Vite]=. Milan:
Brera, 508_)

_Brogi_]

Timoteo, a painter of