tlemen of Bologna. The first
picture by his hand that was seen at Bologna was a S. Rocco of great
size in the Chapel of the Monsignori in S. Petronio; to which Saint he
gave a marvellous aspect, making him very beautiful in every part, and
conceiving him as somewhat relieved from the pain that the plague-sore
in the thigh gave him, which he shows by looking with uplifted head
towards Heaven in the act of thanking God, as good men do in spite of
the adversities that fall upon them. This work he executed for one
Fabrizio da Milano, of whom he painted a portrait from the waist upwards
in the picture, with the hands clasped, which seems to be alive; and
equally real, also, seems a dog that is there, with some landscapes
which are very beautiful, Francesco being particularly excellent in this
respect.

He then painted for Albio, a physician of Parma, a Conversion of S.
Paul, with many figures and a landscape, which was a very choice work.
And for his friend the saddler he executed another picture of
extraordinary beauty, containing a Madonna turned to one side in a
lovely attitude, and several other figures. He also painted a picture
for Count Giorgio Manzuoli, and two canvases in gouache, with some
little figures, all graceful and well executed, for Maestro Luca dai
Leuti.

One morning about this time, while Francesco was still in bed, the
aforesaid Antonio da Trento, who was living with him as his engraver,
opened a strong-box and robbed him of all the copper-plate engravings,
woodcuts, and drawings that he possessed; and he must have gone off to
the Devil, for all the news that was ever heard of him. The engravings
and woodcuts, indeed, Francesco recovered, for Antonio had left them
with a friend in Bologna, perchance with the intention of reclaiming
them at his convenience; but the drawings he was never able to get back.
Driven almost out of his mind by this, he returned to his painting, and
made a portrait, for the sake of money, of I know not what Count of
Bologna. After that he painted a picture of Our Lady, with a Christ who
is holding a globe of the world. The Madonna has a most beautiful
expression, and the Child is also very natural; for he always gave to
the faces of children a vivacious and truly childlike air, which yet
reveals that subtle and mischievous spirit that children often have. And
he attired the Madonna in a very unusual fashion, clothing her in a
garment that had sleeves of yellowish gauze, stripe