Full text: Spence, B.: The "Lions" of Florence and its environs, or the stranger conducted through its principal studios, churches, palaces and galleries

49— 
this neighbourhood. You will find it by going 
straight down the street where Dupré's Studio is 
near a fountain, over which enclosed by glass is 
a fine Luca della Robbia, and enquiring for the 
fresco di Raffaello. This fresco, though long known 
to artists, was so covered by dirt and dust as to be 
almost invisible, when Zotti and Della Porta struck 
with the beauty of parts that had escaped the rava¬ 
ges of time, set about cleaning the painting, and 
reduced it to its present state. The local which 
contained it, was used as a repository for carriages, 
and purchased by its late proprietor for 3000 dol¬ 
lars, who has lately sold the painting alone to go¬ 
vernment for 12,000 scudi. This fresco, visible from 
10 to 3,.has been the theme of discussion amongst 
artists and connoisseurs ever since its restoration. 
At first sight it certainly reminds one very strongly 
of Pietro Perugino, but on a closer examination, the 
heads and extremities have a power of expression 
and beauty of outline, that seem only to belong to 
the Urbinate. It is however incredible that Vasari, 
who was such an admirer of Raphael, should have 
never noticed a work of this importance, which could 
not have been executed in a few days, and which 
could hardly have been kept a secret by the 
nuns, and for what reason? A well known artist 
here, on being asked his opinion, as to whether 
it were by Raphael or not, very drily answered: 
Mi pare di Raffaello; poi non gliel’ ho visto fa-
	        
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