. Spirito he executed an altar-piece of the Madonna holding
in her arms the Child, who is marrying the above-mentioned S. Catharine
of Siena, and at the sides S. Bernardino, S. Francis, S. Jerome, and S.
Catharine the Virgin-Martyr, with S. Peter and S. Paul upon some marble
steps in front, on the polished surface of which he counterfeited with
great art some reflections of the colour of their draperies. This work,
which was executed with fine judgment and design, brought him much
honour, as did also some little figures painted on the predella of the
picture, in which is S. John baptizing Christ, a King causing the wife
and children of S. Gismondo to be thrown into a well, S. Dominic burning
the books of the heretics, Christ presenting to S. Catharine of Siena
two crowns, one of roses and the other of thorns, and S. Bernardino of
Siena preaching on the Piazza of Siena to a vast multitude.

[Illustration: DOMENICO BECCAFUMI: S. CATHARINE BEFORE THE CRUCIFIX

(_Siena_: _Pinacoteca_, 420. _Canvas_)]

Next, by reason of the fame of these works, there was allotted to
Domenico an altar-piece that was to be placed in the Carmine, in which
he had to paint a S. Michael doing vengeance on Lucifer; and he, being
full of fancy, set himself to think out a new invention, in order to
display his talent and the beautiful conceptions of his brain. And so,
seeking to represent Lucifer and his followers driven for their pride
from Heaven to the lowest depths of Hell, he began a shower of nude
figures raining down, which is very beautiful, although, from his having
taken too great pains with it, it appears if anything rather confused.
This altar-piece, which remained unfinished, was taken after the death
of Domenico to the Great Hospital and placed at the top of some steps
near the high-altar, where it is still regarded with marvel on account
of some very beautiful foreshortenings in the nudes. In the Carmine,
where this picture was to have been set up, was placed another, in the
upper part of which is counterfeited a God the Father above the clouds
with many Angels round Him, painted with marvellous grace; and in the
centre of the picture is the Angel Michael in armour, flying, and
pointing to Lucifer, whom he has driven to the centre of the earth,
where there are burning buildings, rugged caverns, and a lake of fire,
with Angels in various attitudes, and nude figures of lost souls, who
are swimming with different gestures of agony in th