Giorgio Vasari

“ Francis, which are there represented, are greatly extolled, and are, indeed, finished with so much skill and care, that nothing better in marble could possibly be desired, Benedetto having with consummate art sculptured rocks, trees, buildings, and various objects in perspective, with other things, brought out with marvellotis freedom. There is besides a repetition of these decorations on a sepulchral stone beneath the pulpit, and this is executed with so much ability that it would not be possible to praise it sufficiently. ”

“ In Faenza this master erected a magnificent marble tomb for the body of San Savino, and on this are six stories in bas-relief, representing events from the life of that saint; they show much power of invention, and are of most correct design, which is manifest in the buildings represented, as well as in the figures; insomuch that, for this as well as for other works, Benedetto was justly acknowledged to be an excellent master in sculpture. ”

“ Having executed many works, both in terra-cotta and marble, all which pleased the king greatly, Benedetto returned to Florence: he had no sooner arrived there than he was appointed by the Signoria to execute the decorations, in marble, for the door of their chamber of audience, where he sculptured figures of boys, which are very beautiful, supporting festoons of flowers with their arms; [4] but the most admirable portion of this work is the central figure, that of St. John, [5] as a youth, which is held to be of singular beauty ”