Giorgio Vasari

“ MINO DA FIESOLE, SCULPTOR.
[born 1400—died I486.]
When artists seek no more, in the works they produce, than to imitate their masters, or some other eminent person, whose manner may please them, in the attitudes of their figures, the air of their heads, or the folds of their draperies, and confine themselves to the studying of these particulars; although, with time and labour, they may execute works similar to those they admire, yet they never attain, by these means alone, to the perfection of their art, since it is obvious that he rarely presses forward who is content to follow behind. ”

“ This pleased Desiderio greatly, but still more entirely was Mino satisfied with the great kindness of his master, whom he found always ready to instruct him how best to avoid the errors into which those who exercise that art are liable to fall. When Mino was thus entering on the path to excellence in his profession, his evil fortune would have it that Desiderio should depart to a better life ”

“ Whereas, if they had studied the manner of their masters and natural objects at the same time, they would have produced more effectual fruits than they have now done. An instance of this may be seen in the works of the sculptor, Mino daFiesole, who, possessing genius whereby he might have accomplished whatever he had chosen to attempt, was yet so enamoured of the manner of his master, Desiderio da Settignano, that the grace imparted by that artist to his heads of women, to his boys, and to all other figures executed by him, appeared to Mino something superior to Nature herself ”