of the Raising
of Lazarus, which proved to be one of the best works that he ever
painted and that was ever sent by Giovan Battista, among the vast
number that he sent, to King Francis of France. For, besides that the
heads were most beautiful, the figure of Lazarus, whose spirit as he
returned to life was re-entering his dead flesh, could not have been
more marvellous, for about the eyes he still had the hue of
corruption, and the flesh cold and dead at the extremities of the
hands and feet, where the spirit had not yet come.

[Illustration: THE MARTYRDOM OF THE FORTY SAINTS

(_After the panel by =Jacopo da Pontormo=. Florence: Pitti, 182_)

_Alinari_]

In a picture of one braccio and a half he painted for the Sisters of
the Hospital of the Innocenti, with an infinite number of little
figures, the story of the eleven thousand Martyrs who were condemned
to death by Diocletian and all crucified in a wood. In this Jacopo
represented a battle of horsemen and nude figures, very beautiful, and
some most lovely little Angels flying through the air, who are
shooting arrows at the ministers of the crucifixion; and in like
manner, about the Emperor, who is pronouncing the condemnation, are
some most beautiful nude figures who are going to their death. This
picture, which in every part is worthy to be praised, is now held in
great price by Don Vincenzio Borghini, the Director of that Hospital,
who once was much the friend of Jacopo. Another picture similar to
that described above he painted for Carlo Neroni, but only with the
Battle of the Martyrs and the Angel baptizing them; and then the
portrait of Carlo himself. He also executed a portrait, at the time
of the siege of Florence, of Francesco Guardi in the habit of a
soldier, which was a very beautiful work; and on the cover of this
picture Bronzino afterwards painted Pygmalion praying to Venus that
his statue, receiving breath, might spring to life and become--as,
according to the fables of the poets, it did--flesh and blood. At this
time, after much labour, there came to Jacopo the fulfilment of a
desire that he had long had, in that, having always felt a wish to
have a house that might be his own, so that he should no longer live
in the house of another, but might occupy his own and live as pleased
himself, finally he bought one in the Via della Colonna, opposite to
the Nuns of S. Maria degli Angeli.

The siege finished, Pope Clement commanded Messer Ottaviano de' Medi