Annnuciation in mosaic, so finely done, that nothing better has ever been produced by the modern masters in that art.[1] Domenico was wont to say that painting was design, but that the true painting for eternity was mosaic.
Among those who studied their art under Domenico was Bastiano Mainardi of St. Gemignano, who became a very able master in fresco; wherefore, proceeding together to San Gemignano, Domenico and Bastiano painted the chapel of Santa Fina in company, and produced a work of much beauty.[2] The faithful service and ready kindness of Bastiano, who always acquitted himself well, caused Domenico to judge him worthy to receive one of his sisters in marriage; their friendship thus became relationship, the reward bestowed by an approving master in recompense of the labours and pains wherewith his disciple had attained to proficiency in their art. In Santa Croce, Domenico caused Bastiano to paint an Assumption of Our Lady for the chapel of the Baroncelli and Bandini, with San Tommaso receiving the girdle below.[3] This is an admirable fresco, but the cartoon was prepared by Domenico himself. At Siena, in an apartment of the Spannocchi Palace, Domenico and Bastiano painted various stories in company, the work is in fresco and the figures are small. In the cathedral of Pisa, likewise, in addition to the recess in the choir, of which I have before spoken, they adorned the whole arch of the same chapel with a numerous choir of angels: they also painted the doors which close the organ, and began to decorate the wood-work in gold. But at the moment when Domenico had many other great works in hand, both at Pisa and Siena, he fell sick of a violent fever, the pestiferous nature of which deprived him in five days of his life. Hearing of his illness, the family of Tornabuoni sent him the gift of a hundred ducats, as a proof of the friendly consideration with which
- ↑ Still in existence: it has been cleaned within the last few years, the dust having rendered it nearly indistinguishable.—Ed. Stor., 1832-8.
- ↑ This work also still remains. For various details respecting it, see Rumohr, Ital. Forsch., vol. ii. p. 286.
- ↑ For the legend of the Cintola, or Girdle of Our Lady, which St. Thomas received from the hand of the Virgin herself, on his appearing doubtful of her having been carried bodily to heaven, see Poetry of Sacred and Legendary Art, vol. i. p. 227, et seq. The work is still in good preservation.
