500 THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. Chap. XXI. Deeply imbued with the lessons of Angelico, he does not equal the master who guided his early years, but he fol lows his manner to the best of his inferior talents. Depicting the kneeling angel of the annunciation he comes as near the mark of Fra Giovanni as possible, keeping the form with out the intense feeling of the Dominican, painting with colour more lively and less coarse than that which marks his later works. 1 The monastery of S. Francesco at Mon- tefalco was the next scene of his labours, and there he filled the hexagonal choir with a triple course of episodes from the life of S. Francis, copious adjuncts of saints in the ceiling and window, and portraits in medallions along the lower skirting of the principal subject and in the vaulting of the entrance arch. Scrolls held by angels in the pilasters of the entrance contain inscriptions from which it appears that Benozzo’s patron was the Francis can Jacopo di Montefalco, and that the whole choir was completed in 1452. The spirit which animates the master is still the religious and kindly one derived from contact with Angelico, and some of the compositions, such as the fine one of S. Francis’ - birth, the rich one of his death, and the quarrel with Bernardone, are worthy of admiration, whilst others, of the saint supporting the falling church, or expelling the devils from Arezzo, are reminiscent of Giotto. 2 1 The Virgin is seated on the left on a throne, in the pediment of which are the words: “Benozzii d... I’lorentia ..CCCCL.” The angel kneeling to the right plays a tambourine. The figures are all butlifesize, ina feigned arch, with a landscape like those of Angelico. The left side is cut down by the work of an altar. 2 The scenes from S. Francis’ life fill four sides of the choir, beginning on the lower course of the nearest left side with the birth, and ending with his death in the lunette of the nearest side to the right. The order of the subjects is as follows: 1. Lower course, the birth, and I the episode of the cloak thrown on the ground for Francis to walk upon. 2. S. Francis gives his dress to the poor. He sees a palace in a dream. 3. He is protected from his father’s anger by the bishop of Assisi. 4. Meeting of S.S. Francis and Dominick, and the Virgin warding off the thunder bolts. Second course also from left to right: 5. S. Francis sup porting the falling church. 6. Ex pelling devils from Arezzo. 7. S. Francis and the sparrows. S. F. blessing the donor Jacopo di Monte falco and Marco, who kneel be fore him. 8. S. F. and the Cava lier of Celano. Lunettes: 9. The nativity at Greggio. 10. S. F. be-