ds the torso, the shoulders, and the arms, until she
rises into a celestial splendour at the head, which makes it appear as
if that figure dissolves gradually in a mist: wherefore it is not
possible to imagine, much less to see, a more beautiful figure than this
one, or one executed with greater judgment and art, among all that were
ever painted to be seen in foreshortening from below.

As for the stories, in the first, at the end of the hall and on the left
hand as one enters, are M. Lepidus and Fulvius Flaccus the Censors, who,
after being at enmity with one another, as soon as they became
colleagues in the office of the Censorship, laid aside their private
hatred for the good of their country, and acted in that office like the
closest friends. And Domenico painted them on their knees, embracing
each other, with many figures round them, and with a most beautiful
prospect of buildings and temples drawn in perspective so ingeniously
and so well, that one may see in them what a master of perspective was
Domenico. On the next wall there follows a picture with the story of the
Dictator Postumius Tiburtius, who, having left his only son at the head
of his army in place of himself, commanding him that he should do
nothing else but guard the camp, put him to death for having been
disobedient and having with a fair occasion attacked the enemy and
gained a victory. In this scene Domenico painted Postumius as an old man
with shaven face, with the right hand on his axe, and with the left
showing to the army his son lying dead upon the ground, and depicted
very well in foreshortening; and below this picture, which is most
beautiful, is an inscription very well composed. In the octagon that
follows, in the centre of the wall, is the story of Spurius Cassius,
whom the Roman Senate, suspecting that he was plotting to become King,
caused to be beheaded, and his house to be pulled down; and in this
scene the head, which is beside the executioner, and the body, which is
on the ground in foreshortening, are very beautiful. In the next picture
is the Tribune Publius Mucius, who caused all his fellow-tribunes, who
were conspiring with Spurius to become tyrants of their country, to be
burned; and here the fire that is consuming their bodies is painted very
well and with great art.

At the other end of the hall, in another picture, is the Athenian
Codrus, who, having heard from the oracle that the victory would fall to
that side whose King