this also is exceedingly beautiful, and exactly similar to that by Raphael in the picture of Pope Leo: it was ultimately presented by Messer Ottaviano to the old Bishop De’ Marzi. No long time after the completion of these works, it happened that Messer Baldo Magni,[1] of Prato, desired to present a picture of beauty and value to the Madonna delle Carcere in his native city, where he had already caused a magnificent decoration in marble to be prepared by way of frame-work to the same: on this occasion, therefore, Andrea del Sarto was proposed to Messer Baldo, among many other painters, for the execution of the work;[2] whereupon Messer Baldo, although not well acquainted with matters of the kind, felt more inclined to accept the services of Andrea than of any of the others, and had all but given him to understand that himself and no other artist should perform that work, when a certain Niccolo Soggi[3] of Sansovino, who had some interest in Prato, was presented to Messer Baldo, and was so zealously supported by the assertions of his friends that no better master than he was could be found, that Messer Baldo, hearing him so much praised, entrusted him with the undertaking. Meanwhile the friends of Andrea, having sent for him, and he, supposing the work to be his own, repaired with Domenico Puligo, and other painters who were his associates, to Prato, but having arrived in that place they found that Niccolo Soggi had not only caused Messer Baldo to change his mind, but was also bold and shameless enough to say to Andrea, in the presence of Messer Baldo, that he would willingly bet any sum of money with him as to who should produce the best work in painting, the winner to receive the whole sum.
Andrea, who knew what Niccolo could do, though not often showing himself to have much spirit, did on that occasion reply to some purpose, saying, “I have here one of my young disciples, who has not been long studying our art, and if thou hast a mind to bet with him, I will lay down the money for him, but with myself thou shalt make no wager for any sum whatever, seeing that if I vanquish thee, that
