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Chap. XXVII. VASARI’S CHARACTER OF ANGELICO. 563 S. Domenico, where the painter represented the Virgin and child between S. Dominick and S. Peter in adora tion, with the four Evangelists in the vaulting. 1 It ap pears from a bull of Eugenius the Fourth, dated the 13 lh of February 1438, that the church of S. Domenico of Cor tona was then in course of construction. Fra Giovanni therefore must have painted the lunette in question long after the return of the community to Fiesole. The only absence of the artist from that place, or from Florence, was made when he proceeded to Rome, 2 and it may be assumed that this particular fresco which is rapidly exe cuted and might have taken Giovanni a day, was painted as he journeyed to that capital. All other works at Cortona obviously bear the stamp of an earlier time. In considering these and, indeed, all the works of the master, it is apparent that a fixed and immutable prin ciple guided him from the first to the last years of his life. An unwonted religious ardor, an intensity of feel ing hitherto unknown possessed him. His character has been sketched with such rare felicity in this respect by Vasari that the picture deserves repetition. The life of this really angelic father was devoted to the service of God, the benefit of the world and duty towards his neighbour. Virtue so great and remarkable should not and could not descend on any one of a life less holy than that of Fra Giovanni; for those who labour at things ec clesiastical and holy must needs be ecclesiastics and saints. He was of simple and pious manners; and it is an example of his goodness that, when Pope Nicolas the Fifth asked him to breakfast, he had scruples against tast ing meat without the prior’s permission, forgetting the au thority of the pontiff in such matters. He shunned the worldly in all things and, during his pure and simple life, was such a friend to the poor that I think his soul must now be in heaven. He painted incessantly; but never would lay his hand to any subject not saintly. He might have had wealth, but he scorned it, and used to say that 1 This fresco is almost ruined by exposure. 2 It is satisfactorily shown, vide Mareliese, that from 1418 to 143G Fra Giovanni remained at Fie sole, that in 1436 he came to S. Marco at Florence. 36*