Giorgio Vasari

“ It is clearly obvious, that Agostino and Agnolo bestowed infinite pains and labour on this altar, and that they did their utmost to produce a work of merit, as in truth it is. The names of the artists, with the date, although partially obliterated, may still be read on it, and, as we learn from these when it was begun, so we perceive that the masters occupied eight years in its completion ; but it is true that they performed many other smaller works in different places, and for different persons, within the same period. ”

“ We are told, that when the above-named Giovanni was returning from Naples, in the year 1284, he remained for some time at Siena to prepare the designs for the cathedral, and to commence that façade of the building wherein are the three principal doors, and which was to be richly adorned with sculptured marbles. At this time it was that Agostino, who was then but fifteen years of age, attached himself to Giovanni for the purpose of studying sculpture, of which he had already acquired the first principles, and to which he was no less inclined than to architecture. ”

“ Jacobello, and Pietro Paolo, both Venetians, were also disciples of Agostino and Agnolo. These artists erected a marble tomb in the church of San Domenico, at Bologna, in 1383, for Messer Giovanni da Lignano, doctor of laws. They belonged to a large number of sculptors, who, for a long time, preserved one and the same manner, so that they filled all Italy with works of similar character. It is believed also that the Pesarese, who, among many other things, constructed the church of San Domenico, in his native city of Pesaro, was likewise a disciple of Agostino and Agnolo ”

“ Among the artists who studied in the school of the sculptors Gio anni and Niccola of Pisa, the most distinguished were Agostino and Agnolo, of Siena, whose lives we are now about to write, and who became very excellent masters for those times. ”

“ Francis were commenced from the designs of the same artists, when the cardinal of Gaeta, apostolic legate, was present, and no long time after, Agostino and Agnolo were invited to Orvieto by some of the Tolomei family, who were living there in exile, when the brothers executed certain sculptures for the church of Santa Maria in that city. The Prophets in marble, which are now considered among the best and most finely proportioned of all the ornaments enriching that much celebrated façade, are by their hands. ”

“ Wherefore, taking occasion from what has been said above of the episcopal and capitular buildings of Arezzo, I add, that Pietro and Paolo, goldsmiths of Arezzo, who acquired the art of drawing from Agostino and Agnolo of Siena, were the first who produced large works of merit with the chasing hammer. These artists executed a head in silver, of the size of life, for a dean of Arezzo, wherein the head of San Donato, bishop and protector of that city, was enclosed ”

“ In the year 1330, the remains of San Zanobi were discovered beneath the vaults of the church of Santa Reparata ; when this same Maestro Cione enclosed that portion of the head of the saint which is now carried in processions, within a silver head, of the size of life. This head was then accounted a very beautiful thing, and won a great name for the artist, who died soon after, rich and in high reputation. ”