DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0347
DELLO.
331
the confirmation of the privileges he had acquired; but these
were refused to him, by the intervention of Filippo Spano
degli Scolari, who had just returned victorious over the
Turks, as grand seneschal of the King of Hungary. Dello
immediately wrote to the King of Spain, complaining of this
injury, when the Spanish sovereign addressed the senate
with so much earnestness in his behalf, that the due and
desired honours were conceded to him without further’ dis-
pute. We find it related that, as Dello was returning to his
house with the ensigns of his dignity, mounted on horseback,
and robed in brocade, he passed through the Vacchereccia,
where there dwelt many gold-workers, who had their shops
there, and had known him in his youth. From one of these,
scoffing words, either in scorn or jest, assailed the ear of the
master as he rode along. Dello is reported to have turned
towards the spot whence the voice proceeded, making ges-
tures, expressive of disdain, with both his hands, but not
uttering a word, and continuing his way, so that the occur-
rence was scarcely noticed by any one but the person who
had derided him. But this circumstance, with other intima-
tions, caused the artist to believe that envy would be no less
active against him in his prosperity, than malignity had been
when he was very poor; wherefore he resolved to return to
Spain; and, having written to the king, whose reply quickly
followed, he departed to that country, -where he was received
with great favour, and gladly seen to fix his residence there. In
Spain, therefore, our artist dwelt thenceforward, ever working,
but living like a noble, and always painting in an apron of
brocade. Thus then, he retreated before the shafts of envy,
and lived honourably in that kingly court, where he also
died, at the age of forty-seven, and was honourably entombed
by the same sovereign who had so steadily protected him.
The following epitaph was placed on his sepulchre
“ Delius eques Florentinus
Picturae arte percelebris
Regisque Hispaniarum liberalitate
Et ornamentis amplissimus
H. S,E.
S.T. T.L.”*
Dello was not particularly excellent in design, but was the
first who gave a judicious prominence to the muscles in the
* That is, “ Hie sepulto est. Sit terra tibi levis.”—Ed. Flor. 1846-9.
331
the confirmation of the privileges he had acquired; but these
were refused to him, by the intervention of Filippo Spano
degli Scolari, who had just returned victorious over the
Turks, as grand seneschal of the King of Hungary. Dello
immediately wrote to the King of Spain, complaining of this
injury, when the Spanish sovereign addressed the senate
with so much earnestness in his behalf, that the due and
desired honours were conceded to him without further’ dis-
pute. We find it related that, as Dello was returning to his
house with the ensigns of his dignity, mounted on horseback,
and robed in brocade, he passed through the Vacchereccia,
where there dwelt many gold-workers, who had their shops
there, and had known him in his youth. From one of these,
scoffing words, either in scorn or jest, assailed the ear of the
master as he rode along. Dello is reported to have turned
towards the spot whence the voice proceeded, making ges-
tures, expressive of disdain, with both his hands, but not
uttering a word, and continuing his way, so that the occur-
rence was scarcely noticed by any one but the person who
had derided him. But this circumstance, with other intima-
tions, caused the artist to believe that envy would be no less
active against him in his prosperity, than malignity had been
when he was very poor; wherefore he resolved to return to
Spain; and, having written to the king, whose reply quickly
followed, he departed to that country, -where he was received
with great favour, and gladly seen to fix his residence there. In
Spain, therefore, our artist dwelt thenceforward, ever working,
but living like a noble, and always painting in an apron of
brocade. Thus then, he retreated before the shafts of envy,
and lived honourably in that kingly court, where he also
died, at the age of forty-seven, and was honourably entombed
by the same sovereign who had so steadily protected him.
The following epitaph was placed on his sepulchre
“ Delius eques Florentinus
Picturae arte percelebris
Regisque Hispaniarum liberalitate
Et ornamentis amplissimus
H. S,E.
S.T. T.L.”*
Dello was not particularly excellent in design, but was the
first who gave a judicious prominence to the muscles in the
* That is, “ Hie sepulto est. Sit terra tibi levis.”—Ed. Flor. 1846-9.