The Lives of the Painters, Sculptors & Architects, Volume 1 (of 8)Vasari, Giorgio
History
The Lives of the Painters, Sculptors & Architects, Volume 1 (of 8)
Vasari, Giorgio
Art, Italian; Artists -- Italy -- Biography
Arezzo, who learned design from Agnolo and Agostino of Siena, were
the first who executed great works of any excellence with the chisel;
for they made for the head priest of the Pieve of Arezzo a silver
head of life-size, in which was put the head of St Donato, bishop and
protector of that city, a work which was certainly praiseworthy, if
only because they introduced into it some figures in enamel, which
were, as I have said, among the first things executed with the
chisel.
About the same time, or shortly before, the art of the Calimara at
Florence, entrusted to Master Cione, an excellent goldsmith, the
greater part, if not the whole, of the silver altar of S. Giovanni
Batista, which contains many scenes from the life of that saint,
engraved in a very creditable manner on a silver plate. This work, on
account of its dimensions, and the novelty of its execution, was
considered marvellous by everyone who saw it. The same Master Cione,
in 1330, when the body of St Zenobius was found under the vaults of
St Reparata, placed in a silver head of life-size, the piece of the
head of that saint which is still preserved therein, and is carried
in procession. This head was considered a most beautiful thing at the
time, and brought much reputation to the artist, who died soon after,
a wealthy man, and held in high esteem.
Master Cione left many pupils, and among others, Forzore di Spinello
of Arezzo, who did all manner of engraving excellently, but was
especially good in making scenes in enamel on silver, such as may be
seen in the Vescovado at Arezzo, for which he made a mitre with a
beautiful border of enamel, and a fine pastoral staff in silver. He
also executed many things in silver for the Cardinal Galeotto da
Pietramala, who bequeathed them to the friars of la Vernia, where he
wished to be buried, and where, besides the wall, which the Count
Orlando, lord of Chiusi, a small castle below la Vernia, had caused
to be set up, he built the church and many rooms in the convent, and
all this without leaving any notice or other memorial of himself in
any part of that place. Another pupil of Master Cione was Lionardo di
Ser Giovanni of Florence, who executed a number of works with the
chisel and with solder, with a better design than those who preceded
him, especially the altar and silver bas-reliefs of S. Jacopo at
Pistoia, where, beside a large number of subjects, the half-length
figure of St James, more than a braccia high, is much admired. It is
in full relief, and finished with such elaboration, that it seems to
have been cast rather than engraved. The figure is placed in the
midst of the scenes of the altar table, about which runs a legend in
letters of enamel:
Ad honorem Dei et S. Jacobi Apostoli, hoc opus factum fuit tempore
Domini Franc. Pagni dictae operae operarii sub anno 1371 per me
Leonardum Ser Jo. de Floren. aurific.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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