on that I should be allowed to paint in it something after
my own fancy from the life of S. Gismondo, in allusion to the name of
the testator. Which agreement concluded, I remembered to have heard that
Filippo di Ser Brunellesco, the architect of that church, had given a
particular form to all the chapels to the end that there might be made
for each not some little altar-piece, but some large scene or picture
which might fill the whole space. Wherefore, being disposed to follow in
that respect the wishes and directions of Brunelleschi, and paying
regard rather to honour than to the little profit that I could obtain
from that commission, which contemplated the painting of a small
altar-picture with few figures, I painted in an altar-piece ten braccia
in breadth, and thirteen in height, the story, or rather, martyrdom, of
the King S. Gismondo, when he, his wife, and his two sons were cast into
a well by another King, or rather, Tyrant. I contrived that the
ornamental border of that chapel, which is a semi-circle, should serve
as the opening of the gate of a great palace in the Rustic Order,
through which there should be a view of a square court supported by
pilasters and columns of the Doric Order; and I arranged that through
that opening there should be seen in the centre an octagonal well with
an ascent of steps around it, by which the executioners might ascend,
carrying the two sons nude in order to cast them into the well. In the
loggie around I painted on one side people gazing upon that horrid
spectacle, and on the other side, which is the left, I made some
soldiers who, having seized by force the wife of the King, are carrying
her towards the well in order to put her to death. And at the principal
door I made a group of soldiers that are binding S. Gismondo, who with
his relaxed and patient attitude shows that he is suffering most
willingly that death and martyrdom, and he stands gazing on four Angels
in the air, who are showing to him palms and crowns of martyrdom for
himself, his wife, and his sons, which appears to give him complete
comfort and consolation. I strove, likewise, to demonstrate the cruelty
and fierce anger of the impious Tyrant, who stands on the upper level of
the court to behold his vengeance and the death of S. Gismondo. In
short, so far as in me lay, I made every effort to give to all the
figures, to the best of my ability, the proper expressions and the
appropriate attitudes and spirited movemen