366 THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. Chap. X. of so little originality should not be of first-rate talents need not be remarked. After Rosso’s departure, the Al- fani fell into the mannerism of the decline, and lost some of the few advantages they had possessed at first. The earliest production of Domenico’s that exists is the Virgin and child enthroned between SS. Gregory and Nicholas, a panel, in oil, with Alfani’s name and the date of 1518 on the hem of the Virgin’s mantle, in the Collegio Gregoriano at Perugia. It is full of Raphael- esque beauty and feeling in the principal group, which recalls Raphael’s Madonna in the late Roger’s collection; pleasing from the nobleness and regularity of the forms in the attendant saints, but marred by the paltriness of two angels like Victories suspending the crown over the Virgin’s head, and still more so by the uniform dullness of darkly shaded and unglazed colour. 1 These distinct features are apparent in an equally fine fresco of the Virgin and child between SS. Francis and Bernardino, and two lower figures of S. Jerom and Anthony of Pa dua, to the right as one enters the church of S. Fran cesco at Bettona. The child, held on her lap by the Vir gin and receiving a cross from S. Francis, is a little too weighty perhaps; and there is something strained in the grouping, but the Virgin's face is pleasing; her move ment is natural, and the art displayed is derived from that of Raphael at the period of the Madonnas “della Seg- giola” or “di Foligno”, with some additional fleshiness in the figures and mannerism in the drawing. The draperies are generally fair, chiaroscuro sufficient, colour rosy and , of good impasto. 2 Of similar interest are scenes from 1 Wood, oil, figures life size. In the hem of the Virgin’s dress, above the right foot: “MDXVIII”. Above the left foot: “Domenico fece”. Small figures ornamenting the throne, are quite Iiaphaoles- que. There is also a reminiscence of Pompeo Cocchi in the head of S. Augustin. The distance of the picture is a landscape. 2 To the right as one enters the church. The lower saints relieved on a Active marble skirting at the sides of a real niche. Parts of the blue mantle of the Virgin are gone; and pieces of S. Francis’ dress