DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0502
486
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
the rather as it is surrounded by historical representations in
miniature by Fra Bartolommeo,* which are admirable, as will
be further shown in its due place. Our lord the duke has also
a most beautiful, or rather wonderful, crucifix in bronze, from
the hand of Donato, in his study, where there are innumerable
antiquities of rare value, with very fine medals.f In the
before-mentioned treasury (guardaroba), moreover, there is
a basso-rilievo in bronze, representing the Crucifixion of our
Lord, which contains a great number of figures, with another
crucifixion also in bronze. In the house now belonging to
the heirs of Jacopo Capponi, who was an excellent citizen
and true gentlemen, is a figure in marble of the Virgin, in
half relief, which is esteemed to be a most extraordinary
work.J Messer Antonio de’ Nobili also, who was admini-
strator of his excellency the duke, had a work in marble by
the hand of Donato in his house, and in this is a half-length
figure of Our Lady, which is so beautiful, that Messer An-
tonio prized it as much as all his wealth : nor is it less valued
by Giulio his son, a young man of singular excellence and
judgment, the friend of artists and of all distinguished men. In
the house of Giovan Battista d’Agnol Doni, a Florentine
gentleman, there is moreover a Mercury in metal by Donato,
the height one braccio and a half; it is in full relief, and is
clothed in a somewhat fanciful manner; the execution of this
work is truly beautiful, and it is no less remarkable than the
other rarities which adorn his most beautiful house.§ Bar-
* In the edition of 1568, Vasari has Fra Ber., of which Bottarimade
Fra Bernardo, a master who never existed. Later editors followed
Bottari, complaining at the same time of Vasari, for not having men-
tioned the master again, as he had promised to do. But this abbrevia-
tion should doubtless be read Fra Bar. for Bartolommeo (della Porta), in
whose life Vasari speaks at greater length of these miniatures, which
are still in existence.
I Of the works of art described as to be found in the Guardaroba of
Duke Cosmo, some are still preserved, either in that place, in other
parts of the palace, in the royal villas, or in the public gallery ; but very
many are dispersed.—Masselli.
J Of this work, and that next described, nothing is now known. —Ibid.
§ This small statue represents a child, smiling, and in the act of
shooting an arrow. The head is crowned with rushes, with a flower in
front; the shoulders and feet are winged, and a short fawn-like tail is
on the back; small snakes surround the feet; and the vestments of the
figure are bound to the waist by a cincture of poppies. Opinions vary
in regard to this statue. Some—as, for example, Cinelli—consider it
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.
the rather as it is surrounded by historical representations in
miniature by Fra Bartolommeo,* which are admirable, as will
be further shown in its due place. Our lord the duke has also
a most beautiful, or rather wonderful, crucifix in bronze, from
the hand of Donato, in his study, where there are innumerable
antiquities of rare value, with very fine medals.f In the
before-mentioned treasury (guardaroba), moreover, there is
a basso-rilievo in bronze, representing the Crucifixion of our
Lord, which contains a great number of figures, with another
crucifixion also in bronze. In the house now belonging to
the heirs of Jacopo Capponi, who was an excellent citizen
and true gentlemen, is a figure in marble of the Virgin, in
half relief, which is esteemed to be a most extraordinary
work.J Messer Antonio de’ Nobili also, who was admini-
strator of his excellency the duke, had a work in marble by
the hand of Donato in his house, and in this is a half-length
figure of Our Lady, which is so beautiful, that Messer An-
tonio prized it as much as all his wealth : nor is it less valued
by Giulio his son, a young man of singular excellence and
judgment, the friend of artists and of all distinguished men. In
the house of Giovan Battista d’Agnol Doni, a Florentine
gentleman, there is moreover a Mercury in metal by Donato,
the height one braccio and a half; it is in full relief, and is
clothed in a somewhat fanciful manner; the execution of this
work is truly beautiful, and it is no less remarkable than the
other rarities which adorn his most beautiful house.§ Bar-
* In the edition of 1568, Vasari has Fra Ber., of which Bottarimade
Fra Bernardo, a master who never existed. Later editors followed
Bottari, complaining at the same time of Vasari, for not having men-
tioned the master again, as he had promised to do. But this abbrevia-
tion should doubtless be read Fra Bar. for Bartolommeo (della Porta), in
whose life Vasari speaks at greater length of these miniatures, which
are still in existence.
I Of the works of art described as to be found in the Guardaroba of
Duke Cosmo, some are still preserved, either in that place, in other
parts of the palace, in the royal villas, or in the public gallery ; but very
many are dispersed.—Masselli.
J Of this work, and that next described, nothing is now known. —Ibid.
§ This small statue represents a child, smiling, and in the act of
shooting an arrow. The head is crowned with rushes, with a flower in
front; the shoulders and feet are winged, and a short fawn-like tail is
on the back; small snakes surround the feet; and the vestments of the
figure are bound to the waist by a cincture of poppies. Opinions vary
in regard to this statue. Some—as, for example, Cinelli—consider it