thunderbolts by Jove, with some
dead bodies on the ground very well painted and most beautifully
foreshortened. On the other side is a Heaven full of Gods, and on the
earth two Giants who, club in hand, are in the act of striking at Diana,
who, defending herself in a bold and spirited attitude, is brandishing a
blazing torch as if to burn the arms of one of them.

[Illustration: THE DISPUTATION OF S. CATHARINE

(_After the fresco by =Giovanni Antonio Licinio of Pordenone=. Piacenza:
S. Maria di Campagna_)

_Alinari_]

At Spelimbergo, a large place fifteen miles above Udine, the balustrade
and the doors of the organ in the great church are painted by the hand
of the same master; on the outer side of one door is the Assumption
of Our Lady, and on the inner side S. Peter and S. Paul before Nero,
gazing at Simon Magus in the air above; while on the other door there is
the Conversion of S. Paul, and on the balustrade the Nativity of Christ.

Through this work, which is very beautiful, and many others, Pordenone
came into repute and fame, and was summoned to Vicenza, whence, after
having executed some works there, he made his way to Mantua, where he
coloured a facade in fresco with marvellous grace for M. Paris, a
gentleman of that city. Among other beautiful inventions which are in
that work, much praise is due to a frieze of antique letters, one
braccio and a half in height, at the top, below the cornice, among
which, passing in and out of them, are many little children in various
attitudes, all most beautiful.

That work finished, he returned in great credit to Vicenza, and there,
besides many other works, he painted the whole of the tribune of S.
Maria di Campagna, although by reason of his departure a part remained
unfinished, which was afterwards finished with great diligence by
Maestro Bernardo da Vercelli. In the same church he painted two chapels
in fresco: one with stories of S. Catherine, and the other with the
Nativity of Christ and the Adoration of the Magi, both being worthy of
the highest praise. He then painted some poetical pictures in the
beautiful garden of M. Barnaba dal Pozzo, a doctor; and, in the said
Church of S. Maria di Campagna, the picture of S. Augustine, which is on
the left hand as one enters the church. All these most beautiful works
brought it about that the gentlemen of that city persuaded him to take a
wife there, and always held him in vast veneration.

Going afterwards to Venice,