to be
used for the painting, set himself to work and finished the whole in
such a manner, that he surpassed his master by a long way both in
drawing and colouring as well as in invention. In the first part, or
rather, wall, is the Crucifixion of Christ, wrought with much judgment:
for besides the Christ, who is seen there already dead, he represented
very well the tumult of the Jews who have come to see the Messiah on the
Cross, among whom there is a marvellous variety of heads, whereby it is
seen that Ercole sought with very great pains to make them so different
one from another that they should not resemble each other in any
respect. There are also some figures bursting into tears of sorrow,
which demonstrate clearly enough how much he sought to imitate reality.
There is the swooning of the Madonna, which is most moving; but much
more so are the Maries, who are facing her, for they are seen full of
compassion and with an aspect so heavy with sorrow, that it is almost
impossible to imagine it, at seeing that which mankind holds most dear
dead before their eyes, and themselves in danger of losing the second.
Among other notable things in this work is Longinus on horseback, riding
a lean beast, which is foreshortened and in very strong relief; and in
him we see the impiety that made him pierce the side of Christ, and the
penitence and conversion that followed from his enlightenment. He gave
strange attitudes, likewise, to the figures of certain soldiers who are
playing for the raiment of Christ, with bizarre expressions of
countenance and fanciful garments. Well wrought, too, with beautiful
invention, are the Thieves on the Cross. And since Ercole took much
delight in making foreshortenings, which, if well conceived, are very
beautiful, he made in that work a soldier on a horse, which, rearing its
fore-legs on high, stands out in such a manner that it appears to be in
relief; and as the wind is bending a banner that the soldier holds in
his hand, he is making a most beautiful effort to hold it up. He also
made a S. John, flying away wrapped in a sheet. In like manner, the
soldiers that are in this work are very well wrought, with more natural
and appropriate movements than had been seen in any other figures up to
that time; and all these attitudes and gestures, which could scarcely be
better done, show that Ercole had a very great intelligence and took
great pains with his art.

On the wall opposite to this one the same