Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 03 (of 10): Filarete and Simone to MantegnaVasari, Giorgio
History
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 03 (of 10): Filarete and Simone to Mantegna
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
A pupil of his, who lived with him in order to learn, was Bastiano
Mainardi da San Gimignano, who became a very able master of his manner
in fresco; wherefore he went with Domenico to San Gimignano, where they
painted in company the Chapel of S. Fina, which is a beautiful work. Now
the faithful and willing service of Bastiano, who acquitted himself very
well, induced Domenico to judge him worthy to have a sister of his own
for wife; and so their friendship was changed into relationship--a proof
of liberality worthy of a loving master, who was pleased to reward the
proficiency that his disciple had acquired by labouring at his art.
Domenico caused the said Bastiano to paint a Madonna ascending into
Heaven in the Chapel of the Baroncelli and Bandini in S. Croce (although
he made the cartoon himself), with S. Thomas below receiving the
Girdle--a beautiful work in fresco. In Siena, in an apartment of the
Palace of the Spannocchi, Domenico and Bastiano together painted many
scenes in distemper, with little figures; and in Pisa, in addition to
the aforesaid recess in the Duomo, they filled the whole arch of that
chapel with angels, besides painting the folding doors that close the
organ, and beginning to overlay the ceiling with gold. Afterwards, just
when Domenico was about to put his hand to some very great works both in
Pisa and in Siena, he fell sick of a most grievous putrid fever,
which cut short his life in five days. As he lay ill, the Tornabuoni
sent him a hundred ducats of gold as a gift, proving their regard and
particular friendship for Domenico in return for his unceasing labours
in the service of Giovanni and of his house. Domenico lived forty-four
years, and he was buried with beautiful obsequies in S. Maria Novella by
his brothers David and Benedetto and his son Ridolfo, amid much weeping
and sorrowful regrets. The loss of so great a man was a great grief to
his friends; and many excellent foreign painters, hearing that he was
dead, wrote to his relatives lamenting his most untimely death. The
disciples that he left were David and Benedetto Ghirlandajo, Bastiano
Mainardi da San Gimignano, the Florentine Michelagnolo Buonarroti,
Francesco Granaccio, Niccolo Cieco, Jacopo del Tedesco, Jacopo dell'
Indaco, Baldino Baldinelli, and other masters, all Florentines. He died
in 1495.
[Illustration: THE MADONNA GIVING THE GIRDLE TO S. THOMAS
(_After the panel by =Bastiano Mainardi=. Florence: S. Croce_)
_Brogi_]
Domenico enriched the art of painting by working in mosaic with a manner
more modern than was shown by any of the innumerable Tuscans who essayed
it, as is proved by the works that he wrought, few though they may be.
Wherefore he has deserved to be held in honour and esteem for such rich
and undying benefits to art, and to be celebrated with extraordinary
praises after his death.
FOOTNOTES:
[23] Garlands.
[24] See note on p. 57, Vol. I.
[25] See note on p. 57, Vol. I.
ANTONIO AND PIERO POLLAIUOLO
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