DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61542#0263
RETURN TO FLORENCE
221
1504]
As early as April 1487, Filippo Strozzi, the builder
of the famous Strozzi Palace in Florence, had engaged
Filippino to decorate his family chapel in Santa
Maria Novella, and now he vainly urged the absent
master to fulfil his promise. In a letter from Rome,
dated May 2, 1489, the painter expresses his warm
gratitude to Strozzi for kindness far beyond his
deserts, and deeply regrets that he has so far been
unable to comply with his request, since he is detained
in Rome by the Cardinal, who has proved himself the
best of patrons, and for whom he is executing the
frescoes in Santa Maria, of which he proceeds to
give a full description. Since, however, he intends
to be at home again by the feast of San Giovanni,
he will then undertake the work for Filippo Strozzi
and attend to nothing else until it is finished. But it
seems doubtful whether the master returned to
Florence at all that year, and the first record we have
of his presence there is in January 1491, when he was
one of the competitors who supplied designs for the
fagade of the Duomo. By this time Filippo Strozzi
was dead, and it was not until 1500 that the heirs
were able to induce Filippino to carry out their father’s
wishes. Orders from all sides poured in upon the
popular master, who found it quite impossible to
satisfy all the demands that were made upon him.
A fresco representing a sacrifice, which he began in
a loggia of Lorenzo de’ Medici’s villa at Poggio a
Caiano, and which is still in existence, was left un-
finished, probably on account of the Magnifico’s death,
in 1492. Another commission which he accepted
was an order from the monks of the Certosa of
Pavia, who applied to him on the recommenda-
221
1504]
As early as April 1487, Filippo Strozzi, the builder
of the famous Strozzi Palace in Florence, had engaged
Filippino to decorate his family chapel in Santa
Maria Novella, and now he vainly urged the absent
master to fulfil his promise. In a letter from Rome,
dated May 2, 1489, the painter expresses his warm
gratitude to Strozzi for kindness far beyond his
deserts, and deeply regrets that he has so far been
unable to comply with his request, since he is detained
in Rome by the Cardinal, who has proved himself the
best of patrons, and for whom he is executing the
frescoes in Santa Maria, of which he proceeds to
give a full description. Since, however, he intends
to be at home again by the feast of San Giovanni,
he will then undertake the work for Filippo Strozzi
and attend to nothing else until it is finished. But it
seems doubtful whether the master returned to
Florence at all that year, and the first record we have
of his presence there is in January 1491, when he was
one of the competitors who supplied designs for the
fagade of the Duomo. By this time Filippo Strozzi
was dead, and it was not until 1500 that the heirs
were able to induce Filippino to carry out their father’s
wishes. Orders from all sides poured in upon the
popular master, who found it quite impossible to
satisfy all the demands that were made upon him.
A fresco representing a sacrifice, which he began in
a loggia of Lorenzo de’ Medici’s villa at Poggio a
Caiano, and which is still in existence, was left un-
finished, probably on account of the Magnifico’s death,
in 1492. Another commission which he accepted
was an order from the monks of the Certosa of
Pavia, who applied to him on the recommenda-