ch profit for himself, that the gains that he drew from this work
enabled him to recall to Arezzo many of his brothers, who were living at
Cortona and working at the manufacture of earthenware vases. He also
brought into his house his nephew, Luca Signorelli of Cortona, his
sister's son, whom he placed, by reason of his good intelligence, with
Piero Borghese, to the end that he might learn the art of painting;
which he contrived to do very well, as will be told in the proper place.

Lazzaro, then, devoting himself continually to the study of art, became
every day more excellent, as is shown by some very good drawings by his
hand that are in our book. And because he took much pleasure in
depicting certain natural effects full of emotions, in which he
expressed very well weeping, laughing, crying, fear, trembling, and the
like, his pictures are mostly full of such inventions; as may be seen
in a little chapel painted in fresco by his hand in S. Gimignano at
Arezzo, wherein there is a Crucifix, with the Madonna, S. John, and the
Magdalene at the foot of the Cross, in various attitudes, and weeping so
naturally, that they acquired credit and fame for him among his
fellow-citizens. For the Company of S. Antonio, in the same city, he
painted a cloth banner that is borne in processions, on which he wrought
Jesus Christ at the Column, naked and bound and so lifelike, that He
appears to be trembling, and, with His shoulders all drawn together, to
be enduring with incredible humility and patience the blows that two
Jews are giving Him. One of these, firmly planted on his feet, is plying
his scourge with both his hands, turning his back towards Christ in an
attitude full of cruelty. The other is seen in profile, raising himself
on tip-toe; and grasping the scourge with his hands, and gnashing his
teeth, he is wielding it with so great rage that words are powerless to
express it. Both these men Lazzaro painted with their garments torn, the
better to reveal the nude, contenting himself with covering after a
fashion their private and less honourable parts. This work painted on
cloth has lasted all these years--which truly makes me marvel--right up
to our own day; and by reason of its beauty and excellence the men of
that Company caused a copy to be made of it by the French Prior,[9] as
we will relate in the proper place. At Perugia, also, Lazzaro wrought
some stories of the Madonna, with a Crucifix, in a chapel beside the
Sacristy of