Giorgio Vasari

“ In his youth, Raffaellino studied drawing as industriously as any of the painters, who have laboured by long practice to attain perfection in their art, and there still remains a vast number of drawings by his hand, which one of his sons is always ready to sell for the meanest price to any purchaser, they may therefore be found wherever there is a lover of art. ”

“ A figure of equal excellence is that of one on whom the stone cover of the sepulchre has fallen, he is crying aloud, and the head is as remarkable for the beauty as for the peculiarity of the expression. ”

“ These designs are partly in chalk, partly done with the pen; some are in water-colours, but all are on tinted paper, the lights being added in white lead, they are executed with extraordinary boldness and admirable facility: many beautiful examples of them, in a very fine manner, are to be found in our own book of drawings. He also acquired the power of painting in tempera and fresco, which he did so well that his first works gave proof of an almost inconceivable care and patience, as I have already remarked. ”

“ I have thought this a fitting occasion to say thus much respecting oil painting, to the end that all may see how important it is that works of art should be secured so far as may be, against such accidents, which have happened not in this place only but in many others. ”

“ It has sometimes been supposed that the support of his family taxed his resources too heavily; being compelled to live in disheartening dependence on the gains of the day, his courage failed him, he probably accepted works at diminished prices, and thus became constantly more degenerate: there is nevertheless always a something of good to be seen in his works. ”

“ From the Abbate de’ Panichi, this artist received a commission to paint the picture of the high altar for the church of San Salvi, which stands near the gate of Santa Croce; the subject chosen is the Madonna with San Giovanni Gualberto, San Salvi, and San Bernardo, a Cardinal of the Uberti family, and San Benedetto the Abbot. [12] On each side of the picture are two niches between which it is enclosed ”

“ In a poor little chapel situate on that side of the Ponte Rubaconte, which looks towards the Mills, this painter depicted Our Lady with San Lorenzo and another saint. [16] He was reduced at last to the acceptance of the meanest works, preparing drawings in chiaro-scuro, to serve as patterns in embroidery for certain nuns and other people; for at that time, there were many who employed themselves in decorating vestments, for the service of the altar, and making other ornaments used in churches ”

“ Gregory, reading mass, when Christ appears to him, an imdraped figure, the blood flowing from the side, and the cross borne on the shoulders; the Deacon and Sub-deacon, in their proper costume, are “serving the mass,” while two angels hold thuribles whence incense ascends over the figure of Christ. In a chapel lower down the church, this master painted the Madonna with St. ”