_Lo Spagna_ (Umbrian: painted 1503-1530).
Giovanni di Pietro, called Lo Spagna (the Spaniard), presumably
from his nationality, was a pupil of Pietro Perugino--the
best, perhaps, of all his pupils who remained untouched by
other influences. Observe for the influence of Perugino's
teaching the lovely flowers in the foreground and the attitude
of the leader of the Roman soldiers on the left (like that
of Perugino's Michael in 288). In 1516 Lo Spagna was made a
citizen of Spoleto, and in the following year president of the
Society of Artists there. The Madonna Enthroned, now in the
Lower Church of Assisi, is considered his masterpiece.
An angel bearing a chalice flies towards Christ from above ("O my
Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy
will be done"). On the right is Judas with a band of Roman soldiers.
On the foreground are the three disciples sleeping ("What! could ye
not watch with me one hour? Watch, and pray, that ye enter not into
temptation; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak").
This picture was at one time ascribed to the young Raphael,[201] being
identified with the work which he executed for Duke Guidobaldo of
Urbino, and which is thus described by Vasari (iii. 8): "For the same
noble, the master executed another small picture, representing Christ
praying in the Garden, with three of the apostles, who are sleeping
at some distance, and which is so beautifully painted that it could
scarcely be either better or otherwise were it even in miniature."
Vasari traces the history of the picture down to his time, when it
was in the Hermitage of Camaldoli. Our picture was formerly in the
possession of Prince Gabrielli at Rome. The greater portion of the
original drawing for it is in the Uffizi, catalogued under Perugino.