Full text: Volume (1)

CORTILE OF THE SS. ANNUNZIATA. 
372 
died in 1285. Leo X. granted him the title of beato 1 in 1516, 
but he was not formally canonised until 1671. It was on the 
occasion of his beatification that this cortile was decorated with 
frescoes. The first of this series was painted by Cosimo Ros¬ 
selli (1439-1507), and represents the saint assuming the habit 
of the order. It is not a picture of superlative merit, nor even 
the best specimen of the master. The five other compartments, 
representing the miracles of San Filippo Benizzi, are by Andrea 
del Sarto, and painted after 1548. Vasari relates that the 
sacristan of the convent, one Fra Mariano, when he engaged 
Andrea’s services, ingeniously contrived, by rousing his jealousy 
of his brother-artist Franciabigio, to get as much as possible 
from him at the smallest remuneration. The first fresco by 
Andrea del Sarto represents San Filippo, on his road to the 
Papal Court at Viterbo, dividing his cloak with a leper. Next 
to this is one of the best of the series—the saint with three of 
the brethren, on their way to Monte Senario, when they were 
persecuted by the insults and gibes of a party of loose fellows 
a storm arose, and these men, taking refuge under a tree, were 
killed by the lightning, while San Filippo and his companions 
pulled their cowls over their heads, and quietly pursued their 
way. This fresco exhibits Andrea’s versatility in composition, 
as well as his skill in landscape. In the fourth fresco, San 
Filippo heals a woman possessed with a demon, which is fly- 
ing out of her mouth; the incident is rendered with sim¬ 
plicity, the interest of the spectators is well-sustained, and 
there is neither coarseness nor exaggeration in the attitude 
and expression of the afflicted person. These three frescoes 
were the first Andrea executed, and excited so much admira¬ 
tion that he was at once ordered to commence the two last 
of the series—the Miracle performed on the death of San 
Filippo ; and children healed of disease by touching his gar- 
1 The decree of beatification did not confer the privilege of being in- 
voked as an intercessor and portrayed in the churches ; it was merely a 
declaration that the person so distinguished had passed a holy life, and 
been received into bliss —beato, *blessed.
	        
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