When Titian's famous painting of the Last
Supper arrived at the Escurial, the king, Philip
II., proposed to cut the canvas to the size of the
pannel in the refectory, where it was designed
to hang. El Mudo (Philip's "deaf and dumb" painter),
who was present, to prevent the
mutilation of so capital a work, made earnest
signs of intercession with the king, to be permitted
to copy it, and reduce it to the size of the
place assigned for it, offering to do it in the space
of six months. The king expressed some hesitation
on account of the length of time required
for the work, and was proceeding to put his design
in execution, when El Mudo repeated his
supplications in behalf of his favorite master with
more fervency than ever, offering to complete
the copy in less time than he at first demanded,
tendering at the same time his head as the punishment
if he failed. The offer was not accepted,
and execution was performed upon Titian,
accompanied with the most distressing attitudes
and distortions of El Mudo.

From Percy Anecdotes