Giorgio Vasari

“ While Maestro Credi, a goldsmith of Florence, who was very eminent in his day, was labouring in his native city with much reputation and a good name, a certain Andrea Sciarpelloni, who had a son named Lorenzo, a youth of admirable genius and excellent dispositions, determined to place the latter with him, to the intent that he might learn the art of the goldsmith. ”

“ Wherever Lorenzo was working he would suffer no movement to be made that' would occasion dust to rise; but all this excess of care is perhaps little more worthy of praise than negligence, for there should in all things be observed a certain measure, and it is always good to avoid extremes, which are, for the most part, injurious. ”

“ Whoever shall desire to see the care with which those artists who desire that the works they execute in oil should be secure of duration, have thought it needful to proceed, let him examine this picture, which is executed with an assiduous delicacy that could not possibly be surpassed. ”