is in the aforesaid church, on
the right hand as one goes towards the high-altar, where the priest sits
when Mass is sung. For the Nuns of S. Piero Martire--who now live in the
Monastery of S. Felice in Piazza, which used to belong to the Order of
Camaldoli--he painted a panel with Our Lady, S. John the Baptist, S.
Dominic, S. Thomas, and S. Peter Martyr, and a number of little figures.
And in the tramezzo[7] of S. Maria Nuova there may also be seen a panel
by his hand.

These many labours having made the name of Fra Giovanni illustrious
throughout all Italy, Pope Nicholas V sent for him and caused him to
adorn that chapel of his Palace in Rome wherein the Pope hears Mass with
a Deposition from the Cross and some very beautiful stories of S.
Laurence, and also to illuminate some books, which are most beautiful.
In the Minerva he painted the panel of the high-altar, and an
Annunciation that is now set up against a wall beside the principal
chapel. He also painted for the said Pope in the Palace the Chapel of
the Sacrament, which was afterwards destroyed by Paul III in the making
of a staircase through it. In that work, which was an excellent example
of his manner, he had wrought in fresco some scenes from the life of
Jesus Christ, and he had made therein many portraits from life of
distinguished persons of those times, which would probably now be lost
if Giovio had not caused the following among them to be preserved for
his museum--namely, Pope Nicholas V; the Emperor Frederick, who came to
Italy at that time; Frate Antonino, who was afterwards Archbishop of
Florence; Biondo da Forli; and Ferrante of Arragon. Now Fra Giovanni
appeared to the Pope to be, as indeed he was, a person of most holy
life, peaceful and modest; and, since the Archbishopric of Florence was
at that time vacant, the Pope had judged him worthy of that rank; but
the said friar, hearing this, implored His Holiness to find another man,
for the reason that he did not feel himself fitted for ruling others,
whereas his Order contained a brother most learned and well able to
govern, a Godfearing man and a friend of the poor, on whom that dignity
would be conferred much more fittingly than on himself. The Pope,
hearing this and remembering that what he said was true, granted him the
favour willingly; and thus the Archbishopric of Florence was given to
Frate Antonino of the Order of Preaching Friars, a man truly very famous
both for sanctity and for learning