n Paris,
where he was received kindly and with many courtesies by M. Francesco
Primaticcio, painter and architect to the King, and Abbot of S. Martin,
he was straightway recognized, so it is said, as the strange sort of man
that he was, for he saw no work either by Rosso or by any other master
that he did not censure either openly or in some subtle way. Everyone
therefore expecting some great work from him, he was set by the Cardinal
of Lorraine, who had sent for him, to execute some pictures in his
Palace at Dampierre. Whereupon, after making many designs, finally he
set his hand to the work, and executed some pictures with scenes in
fresco over the cornices of chimney-pieces, and a little study full of
scenes, which are said to have shown great mastery; but, whatever may
have been the reason, these works did not win him much praise. Besides
that, Francesco was never much liked there, because he had a nature
altogether opposed to that of the men of that country, where, even as
those merry and jovial men are liked and held dear who live a free life
and take part gladly in assemblies and banquets, so those are, I do not
say shunned, but less liked and welcomed, who are by nature, as
Francesco was, melancholy, abstinent, sickly, and cross-grained. For
some things he might have deserved to be excused, since his habit of
body would not allow him to mix himself up with banquets and with eating
and drinking too much, if only he could have been more agreeable in
conversation. And, what was worse, whereas it was his duty, according to
the custom of that country and that Court, to show himself and pay court
to others, he would have liked, and thought that he deserved, to be
himself courted by everyone.

In the end, the King being occupied with matters of war, and likewise
the Cardinal, and himself being disappointed of his salary and promised
benefits, Francesco, after having been there twenty months, resolved to
return to Italy. And so he made his way to Milan, where he was
courteously received by the Chevalier Leone Aretino in the house that he
has built for himself, very ornate and all filled with statues ancient
and modern, and with figures cast in gesso from rare works, as will be
told in another place; and after having stayed there a fortnight and
rested himself, he went on to Florence. There he found Giorgio Vasari
and told him how well he had done not to go to France, giving him an
account that would have driven the desi