exhibited so much boldness, and were enriched with so many, beautiful inventions, that it would not have been possible to do better.[1] It is to be furthermore recorded of this master, that for the purpose of securing the completion of the ornaments within the stated period, he worked with his assistants so zealously that they never quitted their labour; they had consequently a perpetual supply of drink brought to them: this being good Greek wine, the men were constantly inebriated, and this fact of their being perpetually under the influence of wine, together with their practice and zeal for art, caused them to produce wonderful things.
When Salviati, Battista, and the Calavrese[2] saw the works of these artists, they were therefore compelled to confess that he who desires to become a painter should begin by using the pencils early; and this conviction bringing Battista to a more reasonable manner of viewing the question, he ceased to give so much study to the finishing of his drawings, and resolved that he would sometimes practise himself in colouring also.
Montelupo then went to Florence, where they were in like manner preparing sumptuous ornaments for the occasion of the Emperor's arrival, and Battista Franco accompanied him; but when they reached the city they found the preparations far advanced towards completion: Battista was, nevertheless, set to work, and erected the pedestal for a statue which had been executed by Fra Giovan-Agnolo Montorsoli,[3] to be placed at the corner of the Carnesecchi: this pedestal he covered with figures and trophies. Having thus been made known among the artists as a youth of good parts and fine ability, Battista was much employed at a later period; as he was at the coming of Madama Margherita of Austria,[4] wife of the Duke Alessandro, more especially in the preparations made for that event by Giorgio Vasari, in
- ↑ He is said to have made drawings of nearly all the Roman churches, and Bottari tells us that in a book possessed by Mariette, there were drawings of San Giovanni Laterano, San Pietro, and San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura, in their ancient state, by the hand of this artist.
- ↑ This is perhaps Marco Calabrese, whose life will be found at p. 352 of vol. iii.
- ↑ The Life of Fra Giovanni Montorsoli follows.
- ↑ Daughter of the Emperor Charles V.
