Giorgio Vasari

“ This Giovanni, after having worked in stucco for many years with Vasari in the Palace of Duke Cosimo at Florence, has ultimately settled at Parma in the service of the Signor Duke, who has given him a handsome stipend. Here this artist is still producing works of great beauty, and worthy of his admirable genius. In these same cities and districts there are many other good and noble artists, but since they are young, we will defer to a more convenient season the honourable mention which their works shall have merited. ”

“ Fountains decorated with figures in stucco, ornaments in shell-work, and other marine productions, contribute to the beauty of the place, the vaulting being likewise beautifully adorned with stuccoes by Domenico del Barbiere, a Florentine painter, who has given much proof of ability, not in these reliefs only, but in design and colouring also. Another of our countrymen, called Ponzio, [10] a sculptor, has likewise produced figures in relief for this palace, and has acquitted himself very creditably. ”

“ The design for the San Pietro we have now in our book, with other drawings carefully executed by the same artist. Being subsequently despatched to Bologna by Monsignore Poggio, Pellegrino painted numerous stories in fresco at a Palace [17] which that prelate possessed there; among these there is a very beautiful one, wherein the artist surpassed himself, whether as to the composition, the excellence of the figures, or the beauty of the draperies, insomuch that he has not since produced anything superior to this. ”

“ Francesco learned to work admirably in stucco, as well as to handle the colours; wherefore, among all the young men who then laboured in the palace, Francesco was considered one of the best. Nay, his design and colouring were thought the best of all, and the proof that they were so may be seen in a large apartment, for which he executed a double range of ornaments, comprising a vast number of figures in stucco, which represent the ancient Roman soldiery. He executed many of the paintings also, which are still to be seen in that palace, after the designs of Giulio. ”

“ Pellegrino has lately commenced a Palace at Pavia for the Cardinal Borromeo, and this building is to be used for the High School; but not having totally ceased to paint, he is now occupied with a story in fresco for the monks of Monte Oliveto. Of this story, which is in the Refectory of San Giorgio, Pellegrino showed me the design not long since: it is a very fine one, and the work will, without doubt, be very beautiful. But since this artist is not more than thirty-five years old, and is still making progress, this that I have said of him shall suffice for the present. ”

“ He has ever been most liberal and affectionate towards his friends and relations, as well as towards the artists who have served him. In Bologna, more particularly, he has conferred many benefits, and has bought houses of much convenience and beauty for his kindred; witness that now inhabited by Messer Antonio Ancelmi, who married the niece of Primaticcio; another niece, sister of the first mentioned, has also been honourably married by him, and with a good dowry. His life has ever been that of a gentleman rather than a painter ”

“ After these I will also briefly name those who, under their discipline, have attained the first places among the artists of the present day; with a few others, who are proceeding to the acquirement of perfection in their art.
I begin with Franceseo Primaticcio, proposing to speak afterwards of Tiziano Vecellio, and Jacopo Sansovino. Francesco was born in Bologna, of the noble family of the Primaticci, which is much celebrated by Fra Leonardo Alberti, and by Pontano. ”

“ At length, having acquired good and bold design, become a practised colourist and obtained much power in composition, as well as a fine and varied manner, he was invited by the above-named Cardinal to Augsburg, where he continues to execute works of great merit. ”

“ Ruggieri of Bologna, [6] has also been for some time with Primaticcio, and is said to be still in his service, as was Prospero Fontana, [7] whom Francesco invited to leave Bologna for that purpose, but he fell sick shortly after his arrival, and was compelled to return home. These ärtists are truly able men; and I, who have not unfrequently employed them both, Bagnacavallo at Rome, and Fontana at Rimini and Florence, can safely affirm them to be so. ”

“ Livio Agresti of Forlìi, was at one time the rival of Luca, but after he had painted certain Stories in fresco in the Church of the Spirito Santo, and executed some few other works, he left Ravenna and repaired to Rome. Here he studied design with great zeal and acquired considerable facility, as may be seen in certain fa9ades, and other works in fresco, executed by Livio at that time. The first works painted by this artist at Narni are also tolerably good ones ”