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VII. Le Rosso.
When he first set himself to Painting, he was resolved to propose none for his Imitation but Michael Angelo, and at∣tained to such an habit, that his Paintings have an extraordi∣nary Roundness, and are very strong; Florence, his native place, being filled with disturbances and factions, he was ob∣liged to retreat to places of greater security and quiet: Fran∣cis the first King of France, desiring to have him in his service, sent for him to his Court; thither therefore he Travelled, and taking Venice in his way, he Painted a rare Piece for the Poet Aretine, of the Amours of Mars and Venus. Being arriv∣ed in France, he finished many curious Pieces; the most re∣markable amongst them are those in the Galleries at Foun∣tainbleau, some representing the noble actions and exploits of King Francis the first. Others the Histories of Cleobis and Biton, Two brothers drawing their Mother, that was extreme antient, in a Chariot to the Temple of June: Jupiter and Danae, with the Golden shower: Adonis dying in the Arm•• of the Graces, and Venus appearing in great despair in a Chariot drawn by two Doves. The Battle between the Centaurs and Lapithees: A Venus chastizing Cupid for his forsaking Psyche: Chiron the Centaur instructing Achilles: The story of Semele's being consumed with Lightning by Jupiter: The Burning of Troy: A Tempest in a Black and dark night where amidst the light that is caused by terrible flashes of lightning, one sees the raging fury of the Sea excellently represented, and the different actions of seve∣ral men, who endeavour to save themselves from the Wrack; yet notwithstanding perish miserably in the Waves: This last is esteemed the best of all that have been mentioned, and is supposed to design the misfortunes of France in the Battle of Pavia: But the rarest of all his Works is a Bacchus and a Venus in two several Pieces; in both which he seems to have aimed at the utmost perfection he was able: The Bacchus seems so delicately soft and fleshy, that it looks more like a real body then a Figure represented by Colours only; on one side of it is a Satyr who lifting up a Curtain, thrusts forward his Goatish Visage, and seems to be much pleased to behold the jolly Lad; about him are several Antique Vessels, painted some of Gold, silver, Chrystal, and Earth, as the Trophies of a Bacchanalian Combat, with so great variety of Invention, that makes it extreme pleasant: He had an excellent way of painting Still-life, of which sort one is very-famous which he made, containing all that was necessary for the service of a Royal Feast, ranging in order. Ʋtensils of all sorts, Cups, Basons, Candlesticks Salvers, Salt-sellers &c. All of such different formes, and so curious, that the King caused them to be imi∣tated in silver gilt, and made use of them in his Reception of the Emperor, Charles the fifth at Fountainbleau. In fine he grew exceeding rich by the excellency of his Workmanship, living in much splendor and magnificence, keeping both men and Horses in great abundance, his House as full of sumptuous and rich furniture as the greatest Lord, himself was honoured by the chiefest of the Court, reverenced by all lovers of Art, and so beloved by the King, that he often found him more profuse in his liberality to him, then otherwise; But behold here the miserable uncertainty of worldly prosperity, in the height of all his Gran sure and Felicity, of a suddain he fell into a miserable condition by an unhappy disaster that befel him upon this occasion; It happened that Rosso was robbed of a considerable sum of money, and a certain Florentine that frequently haunted his House, as his friend, and a great lover of Art, was suspected by him of the Robbery, Rosso having great Authority, caused him to be imprisoned and put to the Torture, where he maintained his Innocency with that con∣stancy that procured his Release, After which resenting the disgrace with indignation; and finding his body mangled and broken by the excess of his Tortures, he prosecuted Rosso with all eagerness imaginable, resolving to leave nothing un∣attempted to have his full satisfaction and revenge; Rosso fearing the ill consequences of so s••erce a pursuit, and struck with remorse at the unjust treatment of this innocent person; formed a horrid design to make himself away, which he did by poison that he got a Peasant to bring him from Paris, under a pretence that he had occasion for it to make a Varnish of. The poison was so strong that the Peasant had like to have lost his hand in which he carried it. He had a great understanding in mixing his Colours, and to distribute them in the lights and shadows of his Drapery with such Art, that few have been able to imitate them. His Carnation was usu∣ally very natural and full of life, and distinguished as to the Ages and Passions, with marvellous Judgment; Besides the roundness of his Nudities, he gave to every part its proper and regular motion, by true observations of the Muscles making it appear he was well versed in Anatomy, and other like necessary qualifications of a good Painter: He died Anno Domini 1540,