g that company Perino was assigned to Giovanni da
Udine by Raffaello, to the end that he might execute grotesques and
scenes together with the others; and he was told that according as he
should acquit himself, so he would be employed by Giovanni. And thus,
labouring out of emulation and in order to prove his powers and make
proficience, before many months had passed Perino was held to be the
first among all those who were working there, both in drawing and in
colouring; the best, I say, the most perfect in grace and finish, and he
who could execute both figures and grotesques in the most delicate and
beautiful manner; to which clear testimony and witness are borne by the
grotesques, festoons, and scenes by his hand that are in that work,
which, besides surpassing the others, are executed in much more faithful
accord with the designs and sketches that Raffaello made for them. This
may be seen from a part of those scenes in the centre of the loggia, on
the vaulting, where the Hebrews are depicted crossing over the Jordan
with the sacred Ark, and also marching round the walls of Jericho, which
fall into ruin; and the other scenes that follow, such as that of Joshua
causing the sun to stand still during the combat with the Amorites.
Among those painted in imitation of bronze on the base the best are
likewise those by the hand of Perino--namely, Abraham sacrificing his
son, Jacob wrestling with the Angel, Joseph receiving his twelve
brethren, the fire descending from Heaven and consuming the sons of
Levi, and many others which there is no need to name, for their number
is very great, and they can be distinguished from the rest. At the
beginning of the loggia, also, where one enters, he painted scenes from
the New Testament, the Nativity and the Baptism of Christ, and His Last
Supper with the Apostles, which are very beautiful; besides which, below
the windows, as has been said, are the best scenes painted in the colour
of bronze that there are in the whole work. These labours cause every
man to marvel, both the paintings and the many works in stucco that he
executed there with his own hand; and his colouring, moreover, is much
more pleasing and more highly finished than that of any of the others.

This work was the reason that he became famous beyond all belief, yet
this great praise did not send him to sleep, but rather, since genius
grows with praise, inspired him with even more zeal, and made him almost
certain that by pe