d, as it were, with
gold, which gave a truly beautiful and graceful effect, revealing the
flesh in a natural and delicate manner; besides which, the hair is
painted so well that there is none better to be seen. This picture was
painted for Messer Pietro Aretino, but Francesco gave it to Pope
Clement, who came to Bologna at that time; then, in some way of which I
know nothing, it fell into the hands of Messer Dionigi Gianni, and it
now belongs to his son, Messer Bartolommeo, who has been so
accommodating with it that it has been copied fifty times, so much is it
prized.

[Illustration: MADONNA AND CHILD WITH SAINTS

(_After the panel by =Francesco Mazzuoli [Parmigiano]=. Bologna:
Accademia, 116_)

_Brogi_]

The same master painted for the Nuns of S. Margherita, in Bologna, a
panel-picture containing a Madonna, S. Margaret, S. Petronio, S. Jerome,
and S. Michael, which is held in vast veneration, as it deserves, since
in the expressions of the heads and in every other part it is as fine as
all the other works of this painter. He made many drawings, likewise,
and in particular some for Girolamo del Lino, and some for Girolamo
Fagiuoli, a goldsmith and engraver, who desired them for engraving on
copper; and these drawings are held to be full of grace. For Bonifazio
Gozzadino he painted his portrait from life, with one of his wife, which
remained unfinished. He also began a picture of Our Lady, which was
afterwards sold in Bologna to Giorgio Vasari of Arezzo, who has it in
the new house built by himself at Arezzo, together with many other
noble pictures, works of sculpture, and ancient marbles.

When the Emperor Charles V was at Bologna to be crowned by Clement VII,
Francesco, who went several times to see him at table, but without
drawing his portrait, made a likeness of that Emperor in a very large
picture in oils, wherein he painted Fame crowning him with laurel, and a
boy in the form of a little Hercules offering him a globe of the world,
giving him, as it were, the dominion over it. This work, when finished,
he showed to Pope Clement, who was so pleased with it that he sent it
and Francesco together, accompanied by the Bishop of Vasona, then
Datary, to the Emperor; at which his Majesty, to whom it gave much
satisfaction, hinted that it should be left with him. But Francesco,
being ill advised by an insincere or injudicious friend, refused to
leave it, saying that it was not finished; and so his Majesty did not
ha