Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 09 (of 10): Michelagnolo to the FlemingsVasari, Giorgio
History
Lives of the Most Eminent Painters, Sculptors and Architects, Vol. 09 (of 10): Michelagnolo to the Flemings
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
And now to say something of medals, and of the steel dies with which
they are made. I believe that it may be affirmed with truth that our
modern intellects have achieved as much as the ancient Romans once did
in the excellence of the figures, and that in the lettering and in
other parts they have surpassed them. Which may be seen clearly in
twelve reverses--besides many others--that Pietro Paolo Galeotto has
executed recently in the medals of Duke Cosimo, and they are these;
Pisa restored almost to her pristine condition by means of the Duke,
he having drained the country round and dried the marshy places, and
having made many other improvements; the waters conducted to Florence
from various places, the ornate and magnificent building of the
Magistrates erected for the public convenience, the union of the
States of Florence and Siena, the building of a city and two
fortresses in Elba, the column conveyed from Rome and placed on the
Piazza di S. Trinita in Florence, the preservation, completion and
enlargement of the Library of S. Lorenzo for the public good, the
foundation of the Order of the Knights of S. Stephen, the resignation
of the government to the Prince, the fortifying of the State, the
militia or trained companies of his dominion, and the Pitti Palace
with its gardens, waters, and buildings, a work of such regal
magnificence; of which reverses I do not give here either the
lettering that they have around them, or their explanation, having to
treat of them in another place. All these twelve reverses are
beautiful to a marvel and executed with much diligence and grace, as
is also the head of the Duke, which is of perfect beauty; and medals
and other works in stucco, likewise, as I have said on another
occasion, are being made of absolute perfection at the present day.
And recently Mario Capocaccia of Ancona has executed with coloured
stucco, in little cases, heads and portraits that are truly most
beautiful; such as a portrait of Pope Pius V, which I saw not long
since, and that of Cardinal Alessandrino. I have seen, also, portraits
of the same kind by the hands of the sons of Polidoro, a painter of
Perugia, which are very beautiful.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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