DOI chapter:
Chapter II: Biographical
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62110#0048
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VERROCCHIO
relief executed by him for the Villa of Careggi. It is
certain that he executed the Tomb of Cosimo in the Church
of S. Lorenzo for Piero, and from the presence of the
falcon, Piero’s personal device, that he also received from
him the commission for the Lavabo of the inner sacristy.
He was employed by Lorenzo and Giuliano constantly
throughout his life in many and various works, and would
seem to have taken the place of Donatello as the favourite
artist of the family. It will not be out of place here to
speak of an important document which we shall have occa-
sion constantly to quote, since it is our chief source of
information concerning his works for the Medici—the
Inventory of Tommaso Verrocchio.*
Tommaso was, as we have seen, Andrea’s younger
brother, who followed the trade of a cloth-weaver. He
appears to have been throughout his life a source of
domestic trouble, always in financial difficulty, and leaving
the burden of his family to his brother. After the banish-
ment of the Medici he drew up and presented to the offi-
cials deputed by the rebels to value their possessions, a list
of works executed by Verrocchio for the family, precisely
for what purpose is unknown. “ The heirs of Lorenzo dei
Medici have to give for the work mentioned below . . .”
the document begins, and then follows a catalogue of fifteen
works, with a blank space left for the valuation. In his
* The Inventory is transcribed in the Appendix. It was discovered
by Dr. von Fabriczy, and published by him in the Arch. Stor. dell’
Arte, Ser. ii. Anno i. Fasc. iii. The document is not in Tommaso’s
own handwriting, but is a copy made by a public scribe. The list
does not seem to include all the works executed by Verrocchio for
the Medici, and cannot be used as evidence for the rejection of
work not mentioned therein, since the purpose for which it was com-
posed is unknown.
VERROCCHIO
relief executed by him for the Villa of Careggi. It is
certain that he executed the Tomb of Cosimo in the Church
of S. Lorenzo for Piero, and from the presence of the
falcon, Piero’s personal device, that he also received from
him the commission for the Lavabo of the inner sacristy.
He was employed by Lorenzo and Giuliano constantly
throughout his life in many and various works, and would
seem to have taken the place of Donatello as the favourite
artist of the family. It will not be out of place here to
speak of an important document which we shall have occa-
sion constantly to quote, since it is our chief source of
information concerning his works for the Medici—the
Inventory of Tommaso Verrocchio.*
Tommaso was, as we have seen, Andrea’s younger
brother, who followed the trade of a cloth-weaver. He
appears to have been throughout his life a source of
domestic trouble, always in financial difficulty, and leaving
the burden of his family to his brother. After the banish-
ment of the Medici he drew up and presented to the offi-
cials deputed by the rebels to value their possessions, a list
of works executed by Verrocchio for the family, precisely
for what purpose is unknown. “ The heirs of Lorenzo dei
Medici have to give for the work mentioned below . . .”
the document begins, and then follows a catalogue of fifteen
works, with a blank space left for the valuation. In his
* The Inventory is transcribed in the Appendix. It was discovered
by Dr. von Fabriczy, and published by him in the Arch. Stor. dell’
Arte, Ser. ii. Anno i. Fasc. iii. The document is not in Tommaso’s
own handwriting, but is a copy made by a public scribe. The list
does not seem to include all the works executed by Verrocchio for
the Medici, and cannot be used as evidence for the rejection of
work not mentioned therein, since the purpose for which it was com-
posed is unknown.