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16 EAKLY CHRISTIAN ART. Chap. 1. bottles and shelves, — work of hasty execution, inferior to that of 1407 at Sienna, and betraying the extensive employment of pupils. 1 More correspondence between Spinello and the Siennese in April 1406, 2 without results. In June, however, (1407 old style), he signed a new contract, and in March 1407—8, returned to his old quarters at Sienna with Parri, to execute the frescos of the Sala di Balia in the public palace, in conjunction with Martino Bartolommei, 3 who de corated the ceiling and framework with festoons and alle gorical figures of little value. Here Spinello illustrated in sixteen parts the animated story of the Venetian campaign against Frederick Barbarossa, interesting to the Siennese from the share which legendary history assigns in it to Ro lando Bandinelli promoted to the pontificate under the name of Alexander the Third. 4 Executed with great dexterity and freedom, and more than usually successful in composi tion, these frescos are the best that remain to us of Spi nello. The whole of the chapel with its waggon roof is adorned with paintings. Above the entrance a naval en counter is represented, over which two lunettes contain smaller compositions. In one of these the Pope running away in the white garb of a pilgrim and admirably draped, is a prominent figure. Alexander again may be seen in a, picture of the side opposite the entrance, proudly led on horseback by the Emperor Barbarossa and the Doge of Ve nice, both of whom hold the rein at each side, whilst in rear, a suite of cardinals and deacons is relieved on a distance of ships and harbour, and in front a procession of clergy advancing to meet the Pope completes the picture. 5 In the lower course of the wall to the left, the Pope and his car dinals are grouped about the body of the Emperor; the Doge Zani receives from Alexander the sword which is to be wielded against Otho, 6 and in the lunette is the coronation of 1 Two inscriptions in Richa, prove that these frescos of S. Niccolo were executed in 1405, and Vasari errs in the date of 1334 because he found that in thatyearDardano Accaiuoli caused the chapel to be built. The paint ings were commissioned by Leone in 1405. Vide Vas. Vol. II. p.p. 185—6. 8 Doc. Sen. Vol. II. p. 20. 3 Ibid. Vol. II. p. 33. 4 The subjects were traced for Spinelli by one Bettus Bene- dicti. Ibid. Vol. II. p. 33. 5 In a lunette above this the Pope gives Barbarossa his bless ing. The lunette to the right is damaged. In the lower course of the left wall Pope and cardinals are grouped about the body of the Emperor, lying in front of them, a figure renewed apparently in the 15 ,h century by Stefano Sassetta’s pupil Pietro di Gio vanni Pucci. 6 Cardinals surrounded the Pope