Giorgio Vasari

“ The Cardinal Farnese then desiring to have a very rich casket constructed of silver, committed the charge thereof to the Florentine goldsmith, Marino, [9] of whom we shall speak further hereafter; but the plates of crystal were all confided to Giovanni, who decorated them with stories, in mezzo-rilievo of marble, making the figures and ornaments in relief of silver, and executing the whole with so much care, that no work of the kind was ever completed to such perfection. In the inside of the casket are stories, also engraved by Giovanni in ovals, and with marvellous art. ”

“ By the Milanese engravers of gems, Gasparo and Girolamo Misuroni, [30] there are likewise seen vases and tazze of crystal, which are exceedingly beautiful. Two of these in particular, which they have executed for the Duke Cosimo, are most admirable. From a piece of heliotrope also, these artists have made a vase which is remarkable for its size, and admirable for its engraving, with a large vase in lapis-lazuli, which merits infinite commendation. ”

“ Domenico Valerio Marmita and Giovanni, of Castel Bolognese, being dead, there still remained many masters who have since greatly surpassed the above. This has been done for example in Venice by the Ferrarese, Luigi Anichini, the delicate exactitude and fine sharpness of whose works render ' them a marvel. But far beyond all else has gone Alessandro Cesati, called Il Greco, [22] by whom every other artist is surpassed in the grace and perfection as well as in the universality of his productions. ”

“ Since the art of engraving oriental stones, and of cutting cameos was carried to such perfection by the Greeks, whose works in that manner may be called divine, I should consider myself to commit no slight error if I v/ere to pass over in silence the men who, in our own times, have imitated those admirable artists, although there has been none among the moderns, as it is said, who, in this present and fortunate age, have surpassed the ancients in delicacy and beauty of design, unless, indeed, it may have been done by those of whom we are now about to speak. ”

“ The portrait of Henry King of France was also carved by this master; the work is an intaglio on a carnelian, larger than a Giulio, and this has ever been accounted one of the finest intagli ever seen, whether for the perfection of the design, the grace and beauty of execution, or the care and delicacy of the finish. There are besides large numbers of cameos by his hand; among the most admirable are a nude figure of a Woman, perfect in beauty, a second with a Lion, one with a Boy, and many smaller which I do not further particularize ”

“ This master invented a firm kind of stucco for the execution of portraits, which he coloured in imitation of nature, with the tints of the beard, hair, eyes, and colour of the flesh, which causes them to appear as in life, but he merits much higher praise for his works in steel, having made admirable dies, and produced therefrom the most excellent medals. ”

“ In Florence there followed a very distinguished engraver of intaglio, Domenico di Polo namely, a native of that city, who was a disciple of Giovanni delle Corniole, of whom we have before spoken. In our own days this master has made an admirably executed portrait of the Duke Alessandro de’ Medici, making dies in steel, and producing from them very beautiful medals with a '^‘Fiorenza” on the reverse. He also took the portrait of the Duke Cosimo in the first year of his election to the government of Florence; placing the signs of the zodiac on the reverse. ”

“ Most difiicult of a truth it is, since the engraving in cavo may be truly called a working in the dark and at hazard, seeing that the artist has no means of knowing what he is doing but that of taking an impression in wax from time to time. Finally, however, the labours of these masters brought the art to such a state, that Giovanni da Castel Bolognese, Valerio Vicentino, Matteo dal Nassaro, and others, have been enabled to produce the admirable works of which we wdll now proceed to record the memorial. ”

“ The practice of working in cameos is pursued in our own day by the Milanese Giovan Antonio de’ Rossi, a very good master, who, in addition to many other beautiful works engraved in rilievo and intaglio, has executed an exceedingly large cameo for the Duke Cosimo de’ Medici. ”

“ Sic moriendo, vita perennis. Cicognara, Storia della Scultura, has given nine of the engravings executed for this stupendous work by Valerio, omitting the rest, as believing them, but erroneously, to have been given by the Count D’Agincourt, in his great work, Les Arts decrits d’apres les Monuments, the engravings in Agincourt being from another fine work attributed to Valerio, and forming no part of those in our Medicean casket. ”

“ Many of this master’s productions are in the possession of the Cardinal Farnese likewise; at a word, Yalerio left quite as many specimens of his ability as did the above-named Giovanni Bernardi; even in his seventy-eighth year he performed labours which are most wonderful, whether we consider the eye or the hand: he taught his art to one of his daughters, and she also worked most admirably. ”

“ Pontif., p. 185, No. 6, gives a copper-plate of this medal; and Benvenuto Cellini, in his Autobiogi’aphy, commends this master highly, declaring that nothing could give him so much pleasure as to have an opportunity of executing some work in competition with “that able man.” ”