Giorgio Vasari

“ Him Giovan-Antonio proceeded to visit, when Messer Paolo, who earnestly desired that his native city of Arezzo should produce good men and distinguished artists in all vocations, and who desired to show what was the genius imparted by the air and under the skies of his native place, to those who were born there, encouraged Lappoli, (although the latter required but little pressing) , to accompany himself to Rome, where he promised to procure him all that could be required to promote his due study of the art to which he had devoted his attention. ”

“ In the same year there broke out so terrible a plague in Arezzo, that there died of that pestilence four hundred persons daily, and Giovan-Antonio, almost in despair, was again compelled to fly, when he was obliged to remain out of the city for many months, but sorely against his will. Ultimately, however, the epidemic did abate to such an extent that people could once more hold intercouse with each other ”

“ A disciple of Giovan-Antonio Lappoli was Bartolommeo Torri, who was born of a not undistinguished family in Arezzo, and who, having repaired to Rome, there placed himself under that most excellent miniaturist, Don Giulio Clovio. Bartolommeo did indeed devote himself so earnestly to drawing and the study of the nude figure, but more particularly to anatomy, that he became a truly able artist, and was accounted the best designer in Rome. ”

“ But the pleasures of the world, as we so frequently see, are too often the enemy of Art, as regards young people, by causing their minds to be turned from the pursuit thereof. He, therefore, who would effectually devote himself to the study of any art, science, or vocation whatsoever, must have no other companions than such as are of his own profession, while they should also be upright and well-conducted men. ”

“ Bartolommeo neglected himself also in other respects, and thinking that to live in the fashion of a would-be philosopher, dirty and ill-regulated, while he shunned the society of his fellows, was the way to render himself a great man, and to secure immortality, he brought himself to an evil end; for nature cannot always support the repeated injuries which men thus constituted will sometimes offer her. ”

“ He resolved to attach himself to one of the two, therefore; and while he was hesitating as to which of them he should select, the figures of Faith and Charity, executed by Pontormo over the portico of the Nunziata in Florence, were uncovered and given to public view; [4] this fully determined him to fix himself with Pontormo, whose manner appeared to him so beautiful that, as Pontormo was still young, Giovan-Antonio concluded that he would certainly surpass all the rising painters of his day, as was indeed, at that time, the firm conviction of every one. ”

“ The second comedy was undertaken by another society of young men, also nobles, and who called themselves the company of the Infiammati; and these, desirous of receiving equal praise with the Umidi, and acting in competition with them, chose for recitation a work by the Aretine poet Messer Giovanni Pollastra, which was performed under the guidance of the author himself; the scenery and preparations they confided to Giovan-Antonio Lappoli, who acquitted himself to perfection, and so the comedy was recited to the great honour of that society, as well as of the whole city. ”

“ He had indeed already very nearly completed a picture of Our Lady, almost of the size of life, and which Messer Paolo intended to present to Pope Clement, by way of making Giovan-Antonio known to his Holiness; when, as Fortune, who so often sets herself to oppose the designs of men, would have it, there supervened that most unhappy sack of Rome, which began on the 6th of May, in the year 1527. ”

“ Lappoli therefore, although he might have gone to study with Andrea, placed himself with Pontormo instead, and labouring with him, was impelled by a twofold incentive to almost incredible exertion. One of these was the advice of Giovan Maria, of Borgo-a -San Sepolcro, who was giving his attention to design and painting under the same master, and who, constantly advising Lappoli for his good, was the cause of his changing his manner, and adopting the best manner of Pontormo. ”

“ The loss of this young man caused infinite grief to all those of his native city, where his remarkable commencement had awakened hopes that he would do the highest honour, not only to Arezzo, but to all Tuscany. Nor indeed can any man who examines the drawings which he made while still but a youth, fail to regard these works with amazement, or restrain his compassion as he reflects on the early death of the artist.
↑ Of Matteo Lappoli there is some mention in the life of Don Bartolommeo. ”

“ But being fully persuaded that if he would attain to higher eminence in Art, he must leave Arezzo, the plague had no sooner ceased in Rome than Giovan- Antonio Lappoli determined to proceed thither; knowing too that Perino del Vaga, II Rosso, and many others of his friends had returned to that city, and were there executing numerous important works. ”

“ It is true that the painter Rosso was likewise among the visitors of Ser Raffaello, as were others of the same vocation, but Lappoli did not associate with the men of that profession so much as with others, although he would have learned many valuable lessons from those of his own Art, while he might have amused himself at the same time. ”

“ At these words the whole assembly rose in alarm, men began to lay hand on their weapons, and the kinsmen of the }routlis, who seemed to be dealing fearful blows, and on the point of slaying each other, came hurrying to the stage. ”

“ Having secured this, Giovan-Antonio returned to Arezzo, and began his work, which he completed according to the conditions of his agreement, within a year from the day of his having received the commission, and that in such a manner as to secure him very high commendation. [11] This design of Rosso's afterwards came into the possession of Giorgio Vasari, from whom it passed to that of the very reverend Hon Vincenzio Borghini, Director of the Foundling Hospital in Florence, who still has it in his book of designs, the collected works of different painters. ”