Giorgio Vasari

“ Vellano of Padua devoted himself with so much zeal to the imitation of the manner and methods of Donato in sculpture, but more particularly in works of bronze, that he was considered in Padua, his native city, to have inherited the ability of the Florentine master—an opinion justified by his works in the Santo, [1] respecting which almost any one, not possessing a perfect acquaintance with the subject, might be easily induced to believe them the works of Donato himself; nay, many not previously informed of the truth, are thus deceived every day. ”

“ Peter, Vellano was employed in the works of the Vatican, Giuliano da Maiano being architect to the pontiff. Among other things executed by Vellano, are the arms of Pope Paul, with the name of his Holiness; and many of the decorations in the palace of San Marco are by this artist, who was commissioned to that work by the same pope, and executed the bust [7] of the Holy Father, which is to be seen on the summit of the staircase. ”

“ So powerful is the etfect of care and practice in him who with zealous study addicts himself to the imitation of any given object, that we frequently observe the manner of certain of our masters to be so well imitated by those who greatly delight in their works, that no ditference can be discerned (unless it be by those who examine with well-practised eyes) between the imitation and the thing imitated: and it rarely happens that a well-disposed and affectionate disciple fails to adopt, at least in great part, the manner of his master. ”