DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0188
172
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
diadem of the saint, consoling themselves by hurling all the
abusive words they could think of at the head of Buonamico
and of every other Florentine. But Buffalmacco, safe in his
own city, cared but little for the outcries of the Perugini, and
set himself to execute many works, of which, for the sake of
brevity, I will not now speak further. One only shall here be
mentioned, namely, the figure of our Lady with the Child in her
arms, which he painted in fresco at Calcinaia. But the man
for whom he had executed this work, gave him only words
in place of payment, and Buonamico, who was not accustomed
to be trifled with or made a tool of, resolved to have his due
by some means. He repaired one morning therefore to
Calcinaia, and turned the child which he had painted in the
arms of the Virgin into a young bear (but using water-
colours only). This change being soon after discovered by
the countryman who had had it painted, he hurried in
despair to Buonamico, and implored him to remove the bear’s
cub and replace the child as before, declaring himself ready
to pay all demands. This Buffalmacco amicably agreed to do,
and was paid at once both for the first and second painting,
a wet sponge having sufficed him to restore all to its pristine
beauty.* But it would occupy too much time if I were to
recount all the pictures painted, and all the jests made by
Buonamico, more particularly while he frequented the shop
of Maso del Saggio, which was the general resort of all the
jovial spirits and facetious companions to be found among
the citizens of Florence. Here, then, I will make an end of
my discourse concerning Buffalmacco. He died at the age
of seventy-eight ; and being extremely poor, because he had
spent more than he had gained, which was ever his custom,
he was succoured in his last illness by the Confraternity of
the Misericordia, in the hospital of Santa Maria Novella, and
being dead, was buried with the other poor in the Ossa (for
so they call the cloister or cemetery of the hospital), in the
year 134O.f The works of this painter were praised during
his life, and since his death have ever been highly valued
among the productions of that age.
* In a room of the priory of Calcinaia, are still to be seen the remains
of a picture on the wall, representing the Madonna with the Child in
her arms, and other saints; without doubt a work of the fourteenth
century; and a tradition, preserved to this day, declares that painting
to be the one here alluded to.—Ea. Flor. 1846.
| Vasari is certainly in error when he places the death of Buonamico
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
diadem of the saint, consoling themselves by hurling all the
abusive words they could think of at the head of Buonamico
and of every other Florentine. But Buffalmacco, safe in his
own city, cared but little for the outcries of the Perugini, and
set himself to execute many works, of which, for the sake of
brevity, I will not now speak further. One only shall here be
mentioned, namely, the figure of our Lady with the Child in her
arms, which he painted in fresco at Calcinaia. But the man
for whom he had executed this work, gave him only words
in place of payment, and Buonamico, who was not accustomed
to be trifled with or made a tool of, resolved to have his due
by some means. He repaired one morning therefore to
Calcinaia, and turned the child which he had painted in the
arms of the Virgin into a young bear (but using water-
colours only). This change being soon after discovered by
the countryman who had had it painted, he hurried in
despair to Buonamico, and implored him to remove the bear’s
cub and replace the child as before, declaring himself ready
to pay all demands. This Buffalmacco amicably agreed to do,
and was paid at once both for the first and second painting,
a wet sponge having sufficed him to restore all to its pristine
beauty.* But it would occupy too much time if I were to
recount all the pictures painted, and all the jests made by
Buonamico, more particularly while he frequented the shop
of Maso del Saggio, which was the general resort of all the
jovial spirits and facetious companions to be found among
the citizens of Florence. Here, then, I will make an end of
my discourse concerning Buffalmacco. He died at the age
of seventy-eight ; and being extremely poor, because he had
spent more than he had gained, which was ever his custom,
he was succoured in his last illness by the Confraternity of
the Misericordia, in the hospital of Santa Maria Novella, and
being dead, was buried with the other poor in the Ossa (for
so they call the cloister or cemetery of the hospital), in the
year 134O.f The works of this painter were praised during
his life, and since his death have ever been highly valued
among the productions of that age.
* In a room of the priory of Calcinaia, are still to be seen the remains
of a picture on the wall, representing the Madonna with the Child in
her arms, and other saints; without doubt a work of the fourteenth
century; and a tradition, preserved to this day, declares that painting
to be the one here alluded to.—Ea. Flor. 1846.
| Vasari is certainly in error when he places the death of Buonamico