Great Masters in Painting: Perugino Part 20

_Deposited by the Sodality of St. Martin._

=The Transfiguration.= [Sala XI. 2.]

Our Lord is above in the heavens, standing with hands extended, and within a mandorla of cherub heads. Moses and Elias kneel in the clouds, one on either side of the Christ. Below are the three disciples gazing upwards and s.h.i.+elding their eyes with their hands from the blinding splendour of the sight.

The three predella pictures to this altar-piece (which was originally in Santa Maria Nuova) represent "The Annunciation," "The Birth of Christ," and "The Baptism of Christ."

=The Virgin and Child.= [6.]

There is a study for it in the Uffizi, 252, 363.

_Painted in 1497._

_Deposited by the n.o.bile Confraternita di San Pietro Martire._

=The Virgin of Consolation.= [14.]

The Madonna is seated in the heavens, bearing the divine Child, who is nude, erect on her knees. On either side are adoring angels, and around are cherubs. Beneath, on the ground, kneel San Francesco and San Bernardino praying for the people who stand in a great crowd in the middle distance gazing up to the Madonna. In the extreme distance is a view of Perugia.

_Deposited by the n.o.bile Confraternita della Giustizia._

=The Virgin and Child.= [15.]

The Madonna is seated in the heavens and has three cherubs under her feet. On either side are kneeling San Niccolo and San Bernardino da Siena. On the ground St. Jerome, with his lion, and St. Sebastian are also kneeling. In the distance is a view of the city of Perugia.

_From the church of S. Agostino._

=St. John Baptist and four other Saints.= [16.]

St. John stands on a mound in the midst and holds his tall cross, and with one hand points to heaven. On his left is St. Anthony of Padua and St. Sebastian, the latter being partly in armour and wearing a fantastic head-dress and holding an arrow daintily in one hand. On the right are St. Jerome and St. Francis.

=St. John the Divine.= [Sala XII. 4.]

=St. Luke the Evangelist.= [8.]

These are _attributed_ to Perugino in the catalogue.

=The Birth of Christ.= A lunette. Fresco. [Sala XIII. 51.]

The divine Child is on a cus.h.i.+on on the ground, and near by are the Madonna, St. Joseph, and three shepherds, all kneeling in adoration.

The usual wooden square erection occupies the centre of the picture.

Some cattle are seen near at hand.

_From the east door of the church of S. Francesco al Monte._

PERUGIA, DUOMO.

=Virgin and Child and Saints.=

The Madonna is seated under a canopy and holds the divine Child, who raises His hand in benediction, in her arms. On the left stands St.

Sebastian holding an arrow, on the right is a female saint kneeling, and behind her stands St. Joseph with his staff.

PERUGIA, CHURCH OF S. SEVERO.

Raphael's first fresco of =Our Lord and many Saints=, to which Perugino made additions in 1521.

The inscriptions upon it are as follows: =RAPHAEL DE VRBINO DOM OCTAVIANO STEPHANO VOLATERANO PRIORE SANCTAM TRINITATEM ANGELOS ASTANTES SANCTOSQUE PINXIT A.D. MDV.=; and below with the figures of SS. Scholastica, Jerome, John the Divine, Gregory, Boniface, and Martha: =PETRVS DE CASTRO PLEBIS PERVSINVS TEMP. DOMINI SILVESTRI STEPHANI VOLATERRANI A DEXTERIS ET SINISTRIS DIV. CHRISTOPHORAE SANCTOS SANCTASQVE PINXIT A.D. MDXXI.=

In the upper part is the Eternal Father, and below is Our Lord seated, and above His head the white dove of the Holy Spirit. On either side and around Him are adoring angels, and near by, seated in two groups, are, on His right three saints, SS. Maurus, Placidus, and Benedict, and on His left three more saints, SS. Romualdus, Benedict Martyr, and John Martyr.

PERUGIA, CHURCH OF S. PIETRO.

=Pieta.=

The dead body of Our Lord has just been lifted from the tomb by St.

Joseph of Arimathaea, who is supporting it in sitting posture on the edge of the tomb. On either side are St. Mary Magdalen and Our Lady, each holding one hand of Christ.

This was originally part of the great altar-piece of St. Agostino.

_For other parts see Gren.o.ble, Toulouse, Lyons, Nantes, Strasburg, and the Pinacoteca._

PERUGIA, NUNNERY OF S. AGNESE.

=The Eternal Father with SS. Sebastian and Rocu.=

=Crucifixion, with two Angels, the Virgin, and St. John Baptist.=

=The Virgin, with two Angels, St. Anthony the Abbot, St. Anthony of Padua, St. Elizabeth of Portugal, St. Elizabeth of Hungary.=

Said to have been signed: =PETRVS PINSIT 1522.=

These cannot be seen as the house is now strictly cloistered.

PERUGIA, COLLEGIO DEL CAMBIO.

Entirely decorated in fresco.

First and third picture. Twelve standing figures in groups of three, each group consisting of a Greek between two Romans.

1. Fabius Maximus, Socrates, Numa Pompilius.

2. Furius Camillus, Pittacus, Trajan.

3. Lucius Sicinius, Leonidas, Horatius Cocles.

4. Scipio, Pericles, Cincinnatus.