Giorgio Vasari

“ The Milanese sculptor and carver, Agostino, an artist greatly esteemed, [7] was a contemporary of Baccio da Monte Lupo; this Agostino commenced the sepulchral monument of Monsignore di Foix, which still remains incomplete. Many large figures designed for this work are still to be seen, some entirely finished, others half done, and others again merely sketched, there are also numerous historical events represented in basso-rilievo, but all in fragments and unfixed in their places, with a vast number of pieces whereon are carved foliage, trophies, and other ornaments. ”

“ THE SCULPTOR, BACCIO DA MONTE LUPO, AND RAFFAELLO HIS SON.
[born 1445—died 1534, circa.] [born.....— died 1588.]
It is an opinion very general among men, that those who are negligent in pursuit of the occupation to which they should devote themselves, never attain to any eminence in the same; but this judgment was shown to be occasionally incorrect, when Baccio da Montelupo [1] acquired the art of sculpture. ”

“ When the Emperor Charles V. visited Rome, the Pontiff, Paul III., caused a triumph, worthy of that most powerful sovereign, to be prepared for his reception, and on this occasion Raffaello erected fourteen statues of clay and stucco, on the bridge of Sant’ Angelo; these were so beautiful, that they were adjudged to be the best of all that were made for that festivity, nay, further, these figures were executed with so much rapidity, that the artist found time to repair to Florence also, where preparations for the reception of the same monarch were likewise in progress ”

“ Having then repaired to Rome, Raffaello received a commission from Buonarroti for two large marble statues, [12] each five braccia high, and destined for the monument of Pope Julius IL, to be erected in the church of San Pietro in Vinculi, which was then in course of construction by Michelagnolo. But Raffaello becoming very ill while employed with these figures, could not devote himself with his accustomed zeal and diligence to the work, which caused him to suffer in the general esteem; nor did he give Michelagnolo so much satisfaction as he had been wont to do. ”

“ Led away in his youth by the pleasures of the world, he would scarcely study at all, he had little or no esteem for art, and although frequently reproved and exhorted by many to a more industrious life, these counsels did not for the moment avail him. ”

“ This master was subsequently invited to Orvieto, and there, in a chapel which had been enriched at an earlier period, with numerous decorations by the excellent sculptor, Mosca, Raffaello executed an Adoration of the Magi, in mezzo-rilievo. This work, which is in marble, deserves no little commendation for the great variety of the figures, which the master has executed in a very good mannner. ”

“ See Cicognara, as abovecited, lib. v. ↑ This statue is still in the new sacristy of San Lorenzo, called the Chapel of the Sepulchres, and stands on the left of Michael Angelo’s group of the Madonna. ↑ Of these escutcheons, the first is entirely destroyed, and the second has almost wholly perished. ↑ Two seated figures namely. They represent a Prophet and a Sybil. Raffaello executed them, according to the German commentator, Schorn, after models prepared by Michael Angelo himself. ”