Giorgio Vasari

“ At length, however, discovering that art is not equal to the production or representation of all that the human intellect is capable of conceiving, he resolved to content himself with what he had effected, since he could not attain to what was impossible. ”

“ The Florentine painter Visino was also a disciple of Mariotto Albertinelli, and surpassed all those whom we have previously mentioned, whether in design, colouring, or care in execution; he had also a better manner, of which we find proof in the carefully finished works still remaining by his hand: there are indeed very few of them even in Florence, but a judgment may be formed of the artist from those in possession of Giovanni Battista di Agnol Doni. ”

“ Mariotto was persuaded that paintings are worthy of estimation only in proportion as they combine relief and force with softness; he knew that the figures could not stand forth from the plane surface without shadows, but if these are too dark the work is rendered indistinct, and if too faint the picture is found to be wanting in force; he would fain have secured the perfection of softness for his painting, together with a certain something
• Vasari has not mentioned the subjects of these works; it therefore becomes very difficult to distinguish or trace them.—Ed. ”

“ But the poor man was at first on the very point of coming to an evil end in that country, for, being of a frank disposition, and free-spoken habits, he could not endure the annoyance of listening to certain wearisome Hungarians, who were daily worrying him to death with the never-ceasing praises of their own country, and all appertaining to it, with which they filled his ears. ”

“ Mariotto painted a likeness of the above-named lady, which was extremely well done, [6] and he began to hope that by her means ho should make his fortune; but in the year 1494, Piero de Medici was banished, when the assistance and favour of that family failing him, the painter returned to the dwelling of Baccio della Porta. Here he employed himself assiduously in the preparation of models in clay, and in making studies from Nature; he also carefully imitated the works and method of Baccio, by which means he became in a few years an able and experienced master. ”

“ The efforts he thus made are manifest in a figure of God the Father, appearing in the heavens, and in those of numerous children, which come strik" ingly forth from the picture, shown as they are on the dark perspective of the back ground; one part of this represents a coved ceiling, the curves of which are turned in such a manner, with all the lines vanishing at the point of sight, which recedes to a very great depth, that the whole appears to be cut in relief: there are besides angels hovering above, and scattering flowers as they fly, which are executed with infinite grace. ”

“ This caused a great outcry among the brethren, for in matters of the mouth a monk is quite as sensitive as any other man, but as the young painters acted their part with great dexterity, and were considered to be very respectable well-conducted persons, they did not attribute the blame to them, but on the contrary accused certain of the monks, whom they believed to have abstracted the food out of hatred to those robbed, and who obtained all the credit of the contrivance. ”

“ Flor., 1832-8. ↑ The painting of the Trinity is also in the Florentine Academy of Fine Arts. — Ibid. ↑ * ↑ t ↑ This picture, still in very fair preservation, is in the Florentine Academy of the Fine Arts. It is full of power and expression; the head and hands of the Virgin in particular are exceedingly beautiful. —Schorn. ↑ The Visitation of Mariotto Albertinelli, executed for San Pancrazio, is supposed to have fallen into private hands on the suppression of the church, and no authentic information can now be obtained respecting its subsequent fate. ”