e at his labours in this
work, the senses are numbed at the mere thought of what manner of
things all other pictures, those painted and those still unpainted,
would appear if placed in comparison with such perfection. Truly
blessed may he be called, and blessed his memories, who has seen this
truly stupendous marvel of our age! Most happy and most fortunate Paul
III, in that God granted that under thy protection should be acquired
the renown that the pens of writers shall give to his memory and
thine! How highly are thy merits enhanced by his genius! And what good
fortune have the craftsmen had in this age from his birth, in that
they have seen the veil of every difficulty torn away, and have beheld
in the pictures, sculptures, and architectural works executed by him
all that can be imagined and achieved!

[Illustration: S. SEBASTIAN

(_After the fresco by =Michelagnolo=. Rome: The Vatican, Sistine
Chapel_)

_Anderson_]

He toiled eight years over executing this work, and threw it open to
view in the year 1541, I believe, on Christmas day, to the marvel
and amazement of all Rome, nay, of the whole world; and I, who was
that year in Venice, and went to Rome to see it, was struck dumb by
its beauty.

Pope Paul, as has been related, had caused a chapel called the Pauline
to be erected on the same floor by Antonio da San Gallo, in imitation
of that of Nicholas V; and in this he resolved that Michelagnolo
should paint two great pictures with two large scenes. In one he
painted the Conversion of S. Paul, with Jesus Christ in the air and a
multitude of nude Angels making most beautiful movements, and below,
all dazed and terrified, Paul fallen from his horse to the level of
the ground, with his soldiers about him, some striving to raise him
up, and others, struck with awe by the voice and splendour of Christ,
are flying in beautiful attitudes and marvellous movements of panic,
while the horse, taking to flight, appears to be carrying away in its
headlong course him who seeks to hold it back; and this whole scene is
executed with extraordinary design and art. In the other picture is
the Crucifixion of S. Peter, who is fixed, a nude figure of rare
beauty, upon the cross; showing the ministers of the crucifixion,
after they have made a hole in the ground, seeking to raise the cross
on high, to the end that he may remain crucified with his feet in the
air; and there are many remarkable and beautiful considerations.
Michela