DOI Kapitel:
Chapter XV: The Sketch-Book - Pupils and Assistants
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62110#0315
THE SKETCH-BOOK
203
even an unpractised eye must detect the immense differ-
ence.*
Besides the evidence of the work itself, other proofs of
the impossibility of Verrocchio’s authorship exist in the
notes jotted here and there among the drawings. One of
these makes mention of the artist’s son Francesco, and on
another is a record of “ Andrea dell Verocho ” himself,
whose drawing of some putti had been lent to the artist by
a certain “ Lorenzo dipintore ” presumably Lorenzo di
Credi.t The notes are all in the same handwriting, which
bears the strongest resemblance to that of Francesco di
Simone, whose flaccid workmanship the drawings also re-
semble. The exhaustive analysis of Dr. Georg Gronau has
proved beyond doubt that the Sketch-Book is the work
of this imitative assistant of Verrocchio.f
Francesco di Simone Ferucci, of whom much has already
been said in reference to the Tornabuoni Relief, was born
towards 1440 and was therefore but little younger than his
master Verrocchio. He came of a well-known family of
sculptors and stone-workers. His father Simone had a
large bottega at Fiesole, in which Francesco, his brothers
* Morelli, “Italian Painting,” ii. 271.
t The note jotted on the sheet is the memorandum of a debt due to
one “ Giovani Chartolaio per dua bambini lungi un bracio chome
quello che e di mano di andrea dell verocho il quale presto lorenzo
dipintore sopradeto istetta il quale me ne fece servigio."
The evidence adduced by Morelli that one of the drawings is dated
1489, and therefore Verrocchio, dying in 1488, could not be the artist,
is based on a mistaken reading of the note, the figure referring not to a
date but to a debt. The note is as follows : “ Giovani de Tadeo dare
per marmi ae anti da noi nicholo muratore per chonto fatto cholui
proprio resta a dare intuto lire 1489 a lui diche pargata ae bancho de
zanchini a bologna.”
J Gronau, 11 Das sogenannte Skizzenbuch der Verrocchio.” ( Konigl.
Preuss, Kunstsammlungen, 1896, Heft I.)
203
even an unpractised eye must detect the immense differ-
ence.*
Besides the evidence of the work itself, other proofs of
the impossibility of Verrocchio’s authorship exist in the
notes jotted here and there among the drawings. One of
these makes mention of the artist’s son Francesco, and on
another is a record of “ Andrea dell Verocho ” himself,
whose drawing of some putti had been lent to the artist by
a certain “ Lorenzo dipintore ” presumably Lorenzo di
Credi.t The notes are all in the same handwriting, which
bears the strongest resemblance to that of Francesco di
Simone, whose flaccid workmanship the drawings also re-
semble. The exhaustive analysis of Dr. Georg Gronau has
proved beyond doubt that the Sketch-Book is the work
of this imitative assistant of Verrocchio.f
Francesco di Simone Ferucci, of whom much has already
been said in reference to the Tornabuoni Relief, was born
towards 1440 and was therefore but little younger than his
master Verrocchio. He came of a well-known family of
sculptors and stone-workers. His father Simone had a
large bottega at Fiesole, in which Francesco, his brothers
* Morelli, “Italian Painting,” ii. 271.
t The note jotted on the sheet is the memorandum of a debt due to
one “ Giovani Chartolaio per dua bambini lungi un bracio chome
quello che e di mano di andrea dell verocho il quale presto lorenzo
dipintore sopradeto istetta il quale me ne fece servigio."
The evidence adduced by Morelli that one of the drawings is dated
1489, and therefore Verrocchio, dying in 1488, could not be the artist,
is based on a mistaken reading of the note, the figure referring not to a
date but to a debt. The note is as follows : “ Giovani de Tadeo dare
per marmi ae anti da noi nicholo muratore per chonto fatto cholui
proprio resta a dare intuto lire 1489 a lui diche pargata ae bancho de
zanchini a bologna.”
J Gronau, 11 Das sogenannte Skizzenbuch der Verrocchio.” ( Konigl.
Preuss, Kunstsammlungen, 1896, Heft I.)