h. Against which
reproaches Taddeo used to defend himself by saying that he did it on
account of Federigo and the other brothers that he had on his shoulders,
desiring that they should learn with his assistance.

Having thus resolved to serve Farnese and also to finish the chapel in
S. Marcello, he obtained for Federigo from M. Tizio da Spoleti, the
master of the household to the above-named Cardinal, the commission to
paint the facade of a house that he had on the Piazza della Dogana, near
S. Eustachio; which was very welcome to Federigo, for he had never
desired anything so much as to have some work altogether for himself.
On one part of the facade, therefore, he painted in colours the scene of
S. Eustachio causing himself to be baptized with his wife and children,
which was a very good work; and on the centre of the facade he painted
the same Saint, when, while hunting, he sees Jesus Christ on the Cross
between the horns of a stag. Now since Federigo, when he executed that
work, was not more than twenty-eight[22] years of age, Taddeo, who
reflected that the work was in a public place, and that it was of great
importance to the credit of Federigo, not only went sometimes to see him
at his painting, but also at times insisted on retouching and improving
some part. Wherefore Federigo, after having had patience for a time,
finally, carried away on one occasion by the anger natural in one who
would have preferred to work by himself, seized a mason's hammer and
dashed to the ground something (I know not what) that Taddeo had
painted; and in his rage he stayed some days without going back to the
house. Which being heard by the friends of both the one and the other of
them, they so went to work that the two were reconciled, on the
understanding that Taddeo should be able to set his hand on the designs
and cartoons of Federigo and correct them at his pleasure, but never the
works that he might execute in fresco, in oils, or in any other medium.

[Footnote 22: An error of the copyist or printer for
eighteen.]

[Illustration: PORTRAIT OF THE ARTIST

(_After the panel by =Federigo Zucchero=. Florence: Uffizi, 270_)

_Alinari_]

Federigo having then finished the work of that house, it was universally
extolled, and won him the name of an able painter. After that, Taddeo
was ordered to repaint in the Sala de' Palafrenieri those Apostles which
Raffaello had formerly executed there in terretta, and which had b