The history of the popes, from the close of the middle ages : drawn ...

THE TORRE PIA. II9
the Borgia apartments, is also in a good state of preservation.
The walls and ceiling are decorated in a very rich style in
stucco, gold, and fresco. The altar-piece, also the work of
Vasari, represents the martyrdom of the champion of the
faith against the Cathari, who came from the Dominican
order. The frescoes on the walls, still quite intact, and exe-
cuted by Vasari and his pupils, depict scenes in the hfe of
the saint. On the right the saint is seen driving away the
devil who had appeared in the market place of Florence to
disturb his preaching ; on the left is another of his miracles.
On the small wall to the right of the entrance is shown the
presentation of standards with red crosses to those who went
to fight the heretics, and on the left the saint in prayer before
the crucifix. The ceiling shows the triumph of the Church
over the heretics, together with allegorical figures of the
cardinal virtues and portraits of Dominican saints ; first the
founder with the lily, two Popes, probably Innocent V. and
Benedict XL, and three writers, Thomas Aquinas, Albert
the Great, and Vincent of Beauvais.^ No less significant than
the choice of subjects is the fact that the allegorical figures,
which the artists would naturally have shown as naked, are
clothed. It is also noteworthy that the builder of the
chapel in his modesty has introduced nothing to record
the fact.
The chapel of St. Michael, adjoining the Stanze, has been
completely changed by later decoration. ^ The altar-piece,
by Vasari, showed the Coronation of Our Lady, while in the
dome was seen the expulsion of Lucifer and the rebel angels
from heaven.
The chapel dedicated to St. Peter Martyr was intended
for the use of the Pope himself, and the other two for
his household, who were obliged to say or hear mass
daily. For the same reason, a special little church, S.
Martino e S. Sebastiano, decorated by Giulio Mazzoni, a
^ C/. Chattard, IL, 303,
' The lunettes are completely destroyed, and the paintings are
by modem hands.