renowned that is at the right hand upon the
altar of the Buonaventuri, gentlemen of Urbino; wherein the Virgin is
represented with most beautiful grace as having received the
Annunciation, standing with her hands clasped and her face and eyes
uplifted to Heaven. Above, in the sky, in the centre of a great circle
of light, stands a little Child, with His foot on the Holy Spirit in the
form of a Dove, and holding in His left hand a globe symbolizing the
dominion of the world, while, with the other hand raised, He gives the
benediction; and on the right of the Child is an angel, who is pointing
Him out with his finger to the Madonna. Below--that is, on the level of
the Madonna, to her right--is the Baptist, clothed in a camel's skin,
which is torn on purpose that the nude figure may be seen; and on her
left is a S. Sebastian, wholly naked, and bound in a beautiful attitude
to a tree, and wrought with such diligence that the figure could not
have stronger relief nor be in any part more beautiful.

At the Court of the most illustrious Dukes of Urbino, in a little
private study, may be seen an Apollo and two half-nude Muses by his
hand, beautiful to a marvel. For the same patrons he executed many
pictures, and made some decorations for apartments, which are very
beautiful. And afterwards, in company with Genga, he painted some
caparisons for horses, which were sent to the King of France, with such
beautiful figures of various animals that they appeared to all who
beheld them to have life and movement. He made, also, some triumphal
arches similar to those of the ancients, on the occasion of the marriage
of the most illustrious Duchess Leonora to the Lord Duke Francesco
Maria, to whom they gave vast satisfaction, as they did to the whole
Court; on which account he was received for many years into the
household of that Duke, with an honourable salary.

[Illustration: THE MAGDALENE

(_After the panel by =Timoteo da Urbino [Timoteo della Vite]=. Bologna:
Accademia, 204_)

_Anderson_]

Timoteo was a bold draughtsman, and even more notable for the sweetness
and charm of his colouring, insomuch that his works could not have been
executed with more delicacy or greater diligence. He was a merry fellow,
gay and festive by nature, and most acute and witty in his sayings and
discourses. He delighted in playing every sort of instrument, and
particularly the lyre, to which he sang, improvising upon it with
extraordinary grace. He die