Giorgio Vasari

“ For San Miniato al Monte, a monastery of White Friars, outside of Florence, Lossellino was appointed to construct the monument of the Cardinal of Portugal, and this work he executed so admirably, with such extraordinary care and ability, that no artist can ever expect to see any thing which in grace and delicacy could possibly surpass it. ”

“ Antonio was called the Rossellino of the Proconsolate, [2] from the circumstance of his workrooms being in a part of Florence, so called. His works display so much softness and delicacy, with a refinement and purity so entirely perfect, that his manner may be justly called the true and really modern one.
The marble fountain in the second court of the Medici Palace was constructed by Antonio Piossellino, the decorations of this work consist of Children with Dolphins, from the mouths of which the water is poured. The whole is executed with exceeding grace, and finished with the utmost care. ”

“ Antonio died in Florence at the age of forty-six, leaving a brother, also an architect and sculptor, called Bernardo. This artist executed the marble monument erected in the church of Santa Croce, to Messer Lionardo Bruni, of Arezzo, who wrote the History of Florence, and was a very learned man, as all the world knows. [12] Bernardo was much esteemed for his ability in architecture by Pope Nicholas V., who, besides, valued him greatly, and employed him in many of the works which he caused to be constructed during ”

“ And this is a state of things which causes great undertakings to be brough t easily to a successful termination, for when the founder of the building understands for himself, and is capable of instant decision, the works go forward, but when he is incapable and irresolute, he stands undecided between the yes and the no, suffering time to pass unprofitably amidst various designs and opinions, while nothing useful is effected. ”

“ There are angels who have so much grace and beauty of expression, wdth such an easy flow in the draperies, and so much art in the whole work, that they no longer seem to be of marble, but living beings. ”

“ These he was covering in certain parts with Loggie, containing very convenient shops: the richer and more important trades being separated from the minor and poorer, each class of trades established being in a street by itself. ”

“ Ital., vol. ii. p. 193. ↑ Della Valle affirms, that the fortress of Orvieto was built some ages earlier than the time of Bernardo, and that the palaces to be found in Orvieto were constructed under the care of the architect, Ippolito Scalza, of Orvieto; he is therefore at a loss to understand what palace Bernardo can have built in that place. ”

“ A bust of Matteo Palmieri, in advanced age, namely, bearing the name of the artist as follows: Opus Antonii Ghamberelli; and a Madonna; with the Infant Jesus, Joseph and the shepherds appearing behind her. ↑ Lionardo Bruni died in 1443. Engravings of his tomb will be found in Gonnelli, Monumenti Sepolcrali, &c., Tav, 2; and in Cicognara, Storia della Scultura, vol. ii. pl. 25. Another work of Bernardo is the tomb of the Beata Villana, in Santa Maria Novella; and the very elegant monument of the great Legis, Filippo Lazzeri, in the church of San Domenico at Pistoja, is also by him. ”