Giorgio Vasari

“ About the same time our artist painted the likeness of Messer Pietro Aretino, and this also he executed in such a manner, that, not to mention the resemblance, which is nevertheless most exact, the picture is wonderful, if it were only for the difference which the painter has made so clearly obvious in the various kinds of blacks, not less than five or six, to be seen therein; velvet, satin, silk of Mantua, damask, and cloth namely all black, with a very black beard, finely distinguished on this sable clothing, and all so well executed that life itself could scarcely be more life-like. ”

“ He likewise executed certain works in oil, and of these, seeing that he had obtained from Giorgione a certain mode of colouring which was tolerably soft, much account was made at Rome. While Sebastiano was thus producing these pictures in Rome, Raffaello da Urbino had risen into great credit as a painter, and his friends and adherents maintained that his works were more strictly in accordance with the rules of art than those of Michael Agnolo, affirming that they were graceful in colouring, of beautiful invention, admirable in expression, and of characteristic design ”

“ And from this we may perceive how poorly we are conducted by our own wisdom and by human prudence, for how frequently, nay, rather most commonly, do we covet that which we should least seek and do least require: supposing, as the Tuscan proverb goes, that we are about to cross ourselves with the finger, we plunge it into the eye instead. ”

“ But although this rule does, for the most part, hold good, we have nevertheless occasion sometimes to remark that the liberality of just and magnanimous princes has, in certain instances, produced a contrary effect, seeing that there are many who are more disposed to contribute to the advantage and utility of the world, while in depressed and moderate condition, than when exalted to greatness and possessing an abundance of all things. ”

“ I think, indeed, that if I live much longer I shall find that every thing has been painted which it is possible to paint, and since these good people are doing so much, it is upon the whole well that there is one who is content to do nothing, to the end that they may have all the more to do. ”

“ Now in the time of Pope Clement, and when Michelagnolo was in Florence, employed about the new Sacristy of San Lorenzo, Giuliano Bugiardini was commissioned to execute a painting for Baccio Valori, the work to represent the likeness of the Pope, with that of Baccio himself, while in another; he was to depict his Holiness, with the Archbishop of Capua, this last picture being to be painted for Messer Ottaviano de’ Medici. Michelagnolo therefore had recourse to Fra Sebastiano, whom he requested to send him from Borne the head of the Pontiff painted in oil ”

“ Being reproached by certain persons, who declared it to be a shameful thing that he would no longer work, because he had sufficient to live on, Fra Sebastiano replied in this manner: “Nay, since I have enough to support me, I will not work; there are geniuses now in the world who do more in two months than I used to do in two years ”

“ Thinking thus, both ancients and moderns have ever censured, with all the force of expression which they can find, such princes as have failed to protect talents of all kinds, and have withheld from those who labour conscientiously the honours and rewards which are so justly their due. ”

“ Sebastiano having persuaded the Pope to make Michelagnolo execute the work in oil, while the latter vcould do it in no other manner than fresco. But Michelagnolo saying neither yes nor no, the wall was prepared after the fashion of Fra Sebastiano, and Buonarroti suffered it to remain thus for several months, without doing anything to the work. At length, and when pressed on the subject, he declared that he would only do it in fresco, “oil-painting being an art only fit for women, or idle and leisurely people like Fra Bastiano.” ”

“ Young men, in some considerable number, resorted to Sebastiano at divers times, for the purpose of studying their art, but they rarely made any great profit, since from his example, they could learn little beside the art of good living. But from this remark we must except Tommaso Lanrati, [35] a Sicilian, who, besides many other works, has executed in Bologna an exceedingly graceful picture of Venus, embracing and kissing her son Cupid. This work is in the house of Messer Francesco Bolognetti. He has likewise painted the portrait of the Signor Bernardino Savelli, which is highly commended ”

“ With these and other pleasantries, Fra Sebastiano was ever ready to reply, always facetious and amusing as he was; a better or more agreeable companion than himself, of a truth, there never lived. Sebastiano, as we have said, was much beloved by Michelagnolo, but it is also true that when that part of the chapel whereon is executed the Last Judgment of Buonarroti had to be painted, there did arise some anger between them ”

“ It is the common belief, for example, that by rewards and honours the minds of mortals are. stimulated to increased exertion in the study of those arts which they perceive to be well remunerated, and that, on the contrary, the perception that they who have the power to reward exertion, neglect and disregard those who distinguish themselves thereby, has the effect of causing such men to become discouraged and to abandon their vocation. ”

“ He, therefore, commissioned Francesco Salviati to paint the Altar-piece and the chapel, when the last-mentioned artist brought the work in a short time to that perfection which would never have been given to it by the tardiness and irresolution of Sebastiano, who, so far as can be ascertained, had done but little thereto, although he had received from the liberality of Agostino and his heirs a much larger sum than would have been due to him even had he completed the whole. ”

“ By this work the reputation of the artist was much ex tended, and Agostino Chigi, a very rich merchant of Siena, who had frequent communications with Venice, hearing him much extolled in Rome, made efforts to attract him thither, the abilities of Sebastiano in playing on the lute being equally pleasing to Agostino with his acquirements as a painter; and the latter was furthermore incited by the agreeable conversation of Sebastiano, which was also much commended. No great labour was required to lead Sebastiano to Rome ”

“ Things being at this point, and the works of Sebastiano having been exalted to great, or rather, infinite reputation by the praises lavished on them by Michelagnolo, to say nothing of the fact that they were in themselves beautiful and commendable, there was a certain Messer, I know not who, from Viterbo, who stood in high favour with the Pope, and who commissioned Sebastiano to paint a Dead Christ, with Our Lady weeping over him, for a certain chapel which he had caused to be erected in the Church of San Francesco at Viterbo ”

“ These pictures being finished, were publicly displayed together in the Hall of the Consistory; they were both very highly extolled, and, although the works of Raphael had no equal for their extraordinary grace and beauty, the labours of Sebastiano, nevertheless, found honourable acknowledgment and were commended by all. One of these pictures [10] was sent by the Cardinal de’ Medici to his episcopal residence at Narbonne in France, [11] the other was placed in the Chancery, where it remained until it had received the frame prepared for it by Giovanni Barile. ”

“ This picture was presented by Messer Pietro to his native city, and the people of Arezzo have placed it in the public hall of their council, [21] thus doing honour to the memory of their ingenious fellow citizen, and receiving no less from his fame. [22] At a later period Sebastiano painted the likeness of Andrea Doria [23] which was also an admirable work, with the head of the Florentine Baccio Valori; a painting the beauty and excellence of which it would not be possible adequately to describe. ”