in wood of the size of life which is now in the church of Santa Felicita in Florence,[1] with another and smaller crucifix, for which he received the commission from the Brotherhood of the Assumption in Fiesole. Andrea likewise found much pleasure in architecture, and was the master of the stone-cutter and architect Mangone, who afterwards erected many palaces and other buildings in Rome with considerable ability, and in a very creditable manner.
Having at length become old, Andrea confined his attention entirely to smaller works, and being a man of modest character and upright mind, he was more desirous of quiet than of any other thing whatever. He was commissioned by Madonna Antonio Vespucci to prepare the sepulchral monument of her husband Messer Antonio Strozzi, but not being able to work much himself, he suffered the two Angels to be executed for him by his scholar Maso Boscoli of Fiesole, who afterwards performed numerous labours in Rome and elsewhere, while the Madonna of that work was executed by Silvio Cosini of Fiesole.[2] But the monument was not erected so soon as it was completed, which was in the year 1522, because Andrea died at that time. He was buried by the community of the Barefooted Brethren in the Church of the Servites.[3]
Silvio Cosini, by whom the Madonna above mentioned was finally placed in its due position, and who finished the sepulchre of the Strozzi at all points, pursued the studies of his art as a sculptor with extraordinary zeal; he consequently produced many admirable works at a later period: much grace and beauty of manner are apparent in his performances, which surpass those of many among his contemporaries. Silvio was more particularly remarkable for the fancy which he displayed in such things as are called grottesche^ and of
- ↑ Where it still remains.
- ↑ The Angels of Boscoli, and the Madonna of Cosini are still to be seen on the tomb of the Strozzi family, in the church of Santa Maria, in Florence. See Cicognara, vol. ii. pi. xxxi.
- ↑ This Brotherhood was so called, because in all their processions one of them was compelled to carry the Cross barefoot. It was suppressed in 1785, and the cloister, with its frescoes, has been given into the care of the President of the Academy of the Fine Arts. The fresco paintings arc sixteen; twelve from the life of the Baptist, of which ten are by Andrea, and two by Franciabigio; the remaining four exhibit small allegorical representations of Faith, Hope, Charity, and Justice.
