In the same place, Antonio executed a picture in relief,[1] representing the Nativity of Christ (the Presepio), a choir of rejoicing angels float over the rude building, and these, singing, with parted lips, are finished in such a manner that they seem to breathe, nay, to all their movements and expressions, Antonio imparted so much grace and refinement that genius and the chisel could produce nothing in marble to surpass this work. For these qualities the works of Antonio Eossellino have alwavs been held in the highest esteem by Michael Angelo, and are ever considered more than excellent by every other artist. In the capitular church of Empoli, this master produced a figure in marble, of San Bastiano, which is held to be a very beautiful thing,[2] and of this we have a drawing by his own hand in our book, where we have likewise all the architectural details and figures of the before-mentioned chapel of San Miniato al Monte, with the portrait of Antonio Piossellino himself.[3]
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.[4] Bernardo was much esteemed for his ability in architecture by Pope Nicholas V., who, besides, valued him greatly, and employed him in many
- ↑ Cicognara gives an engraving of this work (Tav. xvi. Part 2.) The presepio itself is still in the church of Santa Maria di Monte, in Naples. The Evangelists, St. Matthew and St. Mark, stand on each side of the scene depicted; while St. Luke and St. John are above them in figures of halflength.
- ↑ It is still to be seen as here intimated.
- ↑ In the Hall of Modern Sculptures, in the Florentine Gallery, are two works by Antonio, which Vasari does not name. 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. See Gonnelli and Cicognara, ut supra.
