About the same time Andrea del Sarto painted a picture for the abbey of San Godenzo, a benefice also belonging to the Servite monks; this work was considered to be very well done.[1] For the monks of San Gallo he painted a picture of Our Lady receiving the Annunciation from the Angel;[2] in this there is a pleasing harmony to be remarked in the colouring, certain heads of the angels by whom Gabriel is accompanied are painted with the most delicate softness, and the beauty of the expression is perfect. Beneath this picture was a predella executed by Jacopo da Pontormo, then a disciple of Andrea, who gave an indication at that early age of the admirable works which he afterwards produced in Florence, before he became what we may very properly call another and entirely difierent person,[3] as will be related in his life.[4]
At a somewhat later period Andrea painted a picture for Zanobi Girolami; the subject of this work, the figures in which are not very large, is the story of Joseph the son of Jacob; it was completed by the master with most unremitting care and diligence, for which cause it has been usual to consider this a very beautiful painting.[5] No long time after having finished this work, he undertook one for the men of the Brotherhood called that of Santa Maria della Neve, who have their house behind that of the nuns of Sant’ Ambrosio; the picture is small, and the figures are three: Our Lady namely, with San Giovanni Battista, and Sant’ Ambrosio; when it was finished, the work was in due course of time fixed in its place on the altar of the above-named Brotherhood.[6]
- ↑ The author of the annotations to Borghini declares this picture to be in the Pitti Palace; and later authorities consider the work meant to be an Annunciation, which is in the Hall of Mars.
- ↑ Now in the Pitti Palace, in the Hall of Jupiter namely. In the church of San Jacopo-tra-fossi, where the original formerly was, there is now only a copy by Ottavio Vannini, in the church, but it is a good one. In the Pitti Palace are three other pictures of the Annunciation, by Andrea del Sarto, See Biadi, Notizie, &c.
- ↑ He became a very mediocre painter that is to say, after having promised to become one of high distinction. —Ed. Flor., 1832-8.
- ↑ It will be found in the succeeding volume of the present work.
- ↑ No authentic information respecting this painting can now be obtained.
- ↑ The author of the Annotations to Borghini relates that this picture was presented to the Cardinal, Carlo de’ Medici, who on his part presented
