d, wherein is the Nativity of
Jesus Christ, with most beautiful fantasies of figures. In the other
thirteen are, Mary going with the Infant Christ on the ass to
Jerusalem, with two figures in strong relief, and many in half-relief
and low-relief; the Last Supper, with thirteen figures well composed,
and a very rich building; the Washing of the Disciples' feet; the
Prayer in the Garden, with five figures, and at the foot a multitude
of great variety; Christ led before Annas, with six large figures,
many lower down, and one in the distance; the Scourging at the Column,
the Crowning with Thorns, the "Ecce Homo," Pilate washing his hands;
Christ bearing the Cross, with fifteen figures, and others in the
distance, going to Mount Calvary; Christ Crucified, with eighteen
figures; and Christ taken down from the Cross. All which scenes, if
they were cast, would form a very rare work, seeing that they have
been wrought with much study and labour. Pope Pius IV had intended to
have them executed for one of the doors of S. Pietro, but he had not
time, being overtaken by death. Recently Fra Guglielmo has executed
models in wax for three altars in S. Pietro; Christ taken down from
the Cross, Peter receiving the Keys of the Church, and the Coming of
the Holy Spirit, which would all be beautiful scenes.

In short, this man has had, and still has, the greatest opportunities
to exert himself and to execute works, seeing that the office of the
Piombo gives such a revenue that the holder can study and labour for
glory, which he who has not such advantages is not able to do; and yet
Fra Guglielmo has executed no finished work between 1547 and this year
of 1567. But it is the characteristic of those who hold that office to
become sluggish and indolent; and that this is true, a proof is that
this Guglielmo, before he became Friar of the Piombo, executed many
heads in marble and other works, besides those that we have mentioned.
It is true, indeed, that he has made four great Prophets in stucco,
which are in the niches between the pilasters of the first great arch
of S. Pietro. He also occupied himself much with the cars for the
feast of Testaccio and other masquerades, which were held now many
years ago in Rome.

A pupil of this master has been one Guglielmo Tedesco, who, among
other works, has executed a very rich and beautiful ornamentation of
little statues in bronze, imitated from the best antiques, for a
cabinet of wood (so it is called