angels. In one of these apostles, Orgagna lias left us his own portrait, taken as an old man, which he then was; the beard is shaven, the large capote wound about the head, the face is round and flat, as seen in the likeness above,[1] which was taken from the relief in question. In addition to this, the following words are inscribed in the marble beneath:—
“andreas cionis pictor florentinus oratorii archimagister extitit hujus mccclix.”
It appears that the building of the above-mentioned Loggia, and of the tabernacle just described, with all its workmanship, cost 96,000 florins of gold,[2] which were extremely well spent; for whether, as regards the architecture, sculpture, or other ornaments, it is certainly not surpassed in beauty by any work of that period; but is such, that for the part he has taken in it, the name of Andrea Orgagna has been, and ever will be, great and enduring. It was the custom of this master to sign himself Andrea di Cione, sculptor, on his paintings; and Andrea di Cione,[3] painter, on his sculptures, desiring that men should be aware of his claims as a sculptor while they were admiring his paintings, and of his talents as a painter while they examined his sculptures. There are numerous pictures in Florence by this artist, some of which are known by the name, as is the painting in San Borneo, before alluded to; others are recognised by the manner, as, for example, a work in the chapter-house of the monastery degli Angioli.[4] Some pictures, which Andrea left unfinished, were completed by his brother Bernardo, who survived him, but not many years. Andrea amused himself, as we have before said, in making verses; and when he was very old, he wrote certain sonnets, addressed to Burchiello, who was then a youth.[5] Finally, having attained the age of sixty years, he finished the course of his life, in the year 1389;[6] ||
- ↑ In the second edition of Vasari, that is, published during the life of the author, in 1568.
- ↑ In the first edition of Vasari, we read 86,000; and this, according to Bottari, is most probably the right reading.
- ↑ As Francia placed aurifex on his pictures, and pictor on his works in gold.
- ↑ The fate of this picture is unknown.
- ↑ Burchiello also wrote sonnets to Orgagna, which the reader may see in Burchiello’s works, printed in London, 1757.
- ↑ If this date were correct, the birth of Andrea must be placed in
