DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61668#0026
4 POLLAIUOLO
Vasari he was placed by his father at an early age to
learn the trade of goldsmith in the bottega of Barto-
luccio Ghiberti, master of Lorenzo, and soon became
one of the most skilful workers in Florence in niello and
in the setting of jewels. By his ability he attracted the
attention of Lorenzo himself, then at work on the second
of the Bronze Doors of the Baptistry,* and on the frame-
work of these (always according to Vasari) he was set to
carve, and introduced into the design a quail, so
excellently done “ that flight alone was required to
make it perfect.” Before many weeks had elapsed he
had surpassed all his fellows, and was recognised as the
best draughtsman and most careful worker of them all;
and his fame and ability increasing, he left the workshop
of Lorenzo Ghiberti and started an independent
business as a goldsmith in the Mercato Nuovo.f
(see Cavalcaselle, “Storia della Pittura in Italia,” Firenze. 1886,
vol. vi. p. 73, note 2), his father gives his age as one year and a half,
which would place his birth as above stated—1432, (old style, 1431).
The day and month are determined by his name. January 17 is
the feast of his patron saint Antonio Abbate, and on this day he
ordered in his testament that an annual dinner should be given to
twelve paupers. It is true that in his father’s Portata to the Catasto
of 1457 his age is given as 24, which would place his birth in 1433,
and on his tomb in S. Pietro in Vincoli the year of his death is
given as 1498 and his age as 72, which would place it in 1426. But
in his own Portata to the Catasto of 1480 he states his age to be 49,
which corroborates the date 1432. It seems most probable that
this is correct, since, though a father may be mistaken as to the
precise age of his grown-up son, he could hardly err in the case of
a child of eighteen months.
* The so-called Gates of Paradise. Begun, 1425. Finished, 1447.
Gilded and set in place 1452.
t See Vasari, Ed. Sansoni, Firenze, 1878, iii. p. 286.
Vasari he was placed by his father at an early age to
learn the trade of goldsmith in the bottega of Barto-
luccio Ghiberti, master of Lorenzo, and soon became
one of the most skilful workers in Florence in niello and
in the setting of jewels. By his ability he attracted the
attention of Lorenzo himself, then at work on the second
of the Bronze Doors of the Baptistry,* and on the frame-
work of these (always according to Vasari) he was set to
carve, and introduced into the design a quail, so
excellently done “ that flight alone was required to
make it perfect.” Before many weeks had elapsed he
had surpassed all his fellows, and was recognised as the
best draughtsman and most careful worker of them all;
and his fame and ability increasing, he left the workshop
of Lorenzo Ghiberti and started an independent
business as a goldsmith in the Mercato Nuovo.f
(see Cavalcaselle, “Storia della Pittura in Italia,” Firenze. 1886,
vol. vi. p. 73, note 2), his father gives his age as one year and a half,
which would place his birth as above stated—1432, (old style, 1431).
The day and month are determined by his name. January 17 is
the feast of his patron saint Antonio Abbate, and on this day he
ordered in his testament that an annual dinner should be given to
twelve paupers. It is true that in his father’s Portata to the Catasto
of 1457 his age is given as 24, which would place his birth in 1433,
and on his tomb in S. Pietro in Vincoli the year of his death is
given as 1498 and his age as 72, which would place it in 1426. But
in his own Portata to the Catasto of 1480 he states his age to be 49,
which corroborates the date 1432. It seems most probable that
this is correct, since, though a father may be mistaken as to the
precise age of his grown-up son, he could hardly err in the case of
a child of eighteen months.
* The so-called Gates of Paradise. Begun, 1425. Finished, 1447.
Gilded and set in place 1452.
t See Vasari, Ed. Sansoni, Firenze, 1878, iii. p. 286.