Chap. XXV. THE BRANCACCI CHAPEL. 537 in Peter’s miraculous power; for one who could revive the dead could liberate himself. “Tell him however, he added, to restore to me my son who has been dead fourteen years, and I shall then give him life and liberty”. “Thou hast promised much, said Peter to Paul, yet is it very easy of accomplishment. And Peter, being led out of prison, prayed for the hoy, who at once returned to life. Then Theophilus and all the people of Antioch believed; and they built a glorious church in the midst of which they reared a splendid throne. Upon this they seated S. Peter. In the fresco of the Brancacci, Theophilus sits in the opening of a porch to the left in a court whose screen is adorned with vases of flowers. With sceptre in hand and numbers of spectators sitting and standing about him, he looks on, whilst Peter restores to life the naked boy before him, 1 a decorous and attentive multitude contemplating the miracle. To the right, the throne has been erected; and S. Peter sits on it, adored by three kneeling figures in front and others standing to his right and left. 2 The central group of this fresco, including the naked boy and the nine spectators behind and to the right, half of the arm and foot of S. Peter, and all but the head of a figure kneeling in wonder at the miracle is by Filippino Lippi. 3 His style is easily recognized in these parts as well as in a group of five standing on the extreme left of the fresco, although one of the heads, that of the fourth from the picture’s side, shows much of Masaccio’s style in the muscular flexi bility of the aged features. 4 Whilst Masaccio thus exhausted all the knowledge he possessed in a scene which required truth of action and individuality of features, he surpassed himself in the pro duction of colour. Nature itself seems reflected on the eye of the spectator as he sees a number of heads on the 1 At the child’s feet a white winding sheet, 2 death’s heads and bones. 2 A piece of the foreground is here damaged. 3 These parts are marked in the plan with arabic numbers. 4 This figure, with a head in profile, wears a black cap and shows part of a white garment at the neck.