LAZZARO VASARI, PAINTER OF AREZZO.
[born 1380—died 1452.]
Very great, without doubt, is the happiness of those who among their forerunners, the men of their own family, find some that have been distinguished and renowned in a liberal profession, Avhether of arms, of letters, of painting, or any other noble calling. Men who find honourable mention of their ancestors in history have that incitement to virtue, if no other, and may find therein a bridle to restrain them from the commission of any act unworthy of a family which has had honoured and illustrious men among its members. How great a pleasure is to be derived from such a circumstance, as I said in the beginning, I have myself experienced, having found among my ancestors a man who in his day was a famous painter; one renowned, not only in his own native place, but through all Tuscany, namely, Lazzaro Vasari. Nor ^id he attain his fame without good right to it, as I could show clearly, if it were permitted to me to speak freely of him as I have done of others. But because, as I was born of his blood, it might be easily supposed that in praising liim I was over-passing the limits of discretion, I propose to be silent concerning his merits, and those of the family, and will merely relate what I cannot and ought not in any manner to conceal, if I would not depart from the truth, on which all history depends.
Lazzaro Vasari then, the Aretine painter, was the most intimate friend of Piero della Francesca, of Borgo-a-San Sepolcro, and had constant intercourse with that master, while the latter laboured, as has been related, in Arezzo. And, as frequently happens, this friendship was the source of considerable advantage to Lazzaro; for whereas the latter had previously given his attention to small figures only, for the decoration of such things as were at that time in demand, he was induced by Piero della Francesco to attempt works of more importance. His first work in fresco was executed for the church of San Domenico of Arezzo, in the second chapel on the right as you enter the church; it represented San Vincenzio, at the feet of whom Lazzaro depicted himself
