589 Chap. XXIV. SANTI'S ALTARPIECE AT FANO. A masterpiece, however, in which Santi exhibits Um brian feeling allied to improved execution, is the Madonna and Saints in the church of the Hospital of S. Croce at Fano. Its principal group of the Virgin complacently watching the veiled infant, in benediction on her knee, charms by greater sweetness and maternity than that of Cagli, 1 embodies some Peruginesque feeling, and discloses Santi’s progress towards the creation of those chastened and sensitive models which assumed a shape so beauti ful when finally perfected by Raphael. A better and broader style of drapery adds to the effect produced; and the untrimmed hands alone remind us that Santi cannot divest himself of characteristic traits derived from his connection with Melozzo. Two most pleasing types are those of the seraphs whose winged necks support the poles of the red tapestry on which the Virgin and child are relieved. A fine appari tion is that of S. Macarius immediately to the left of the Virgin and partly concealed by the pendent tapestry. S. Helen at his side, in diadem, veil, and imperial purple, is noble in aspect as, enveloped in broad, but perhaps too copious draperies, she points to the cross in her left hand. There is something Florentine in her face and figure which indeed are superior in style to many by Cosimo Rosselli. The Mantegnesque principles of Melozzo are apparent on the other hand in the heavy and weighty frame, in the upturned head, of S. Sebastian to the right of the central group. Yet this mode of foreshortening a face is evidently the suggestion to Raphael of many subsequent delineations of the same kind. S. Roch by S. Sebastian’s side points to the plague boil on his thigh, but the hat, the tights and buskins are not more dignified than the strained at titude repeated from that of the Baptist at Cagli. This piece is carried out on the new system of oil colour in the manner common to Palmezzano, ex. gr. of a 1 The infant holds a pink in its left hand. A coral necklace is about its neck. maternal affection. A blue tapestry is behind the group and the dis tance is a landscape.