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.