returned to Florence, whence he despatched to Baccio Cellini, whom he had left behind, certain pictures by the hand of Berto Linaiuolo,[1] to the end that they might be given to the king. These works were considered by the Hungarians to be exceedingly beautiful, and were highly prized by the monarch. This Berto (of whom I will not refuse to record so much), after having painted many good pictures, which are now in the houses of different citizens, was cut off in the flower of his youth, whereby the fair hopes and expectations which had been entertained of his works, were destroyed. But to return to Chimenti; he remained for a short time only in Florence, and then returned to Hungary, where, still continuing in the service of the king, he was journeying up the Danube to prepare designs for the erection of mills, when the fatigues of travel brought on sickness, which in a few days conducted him to another life. The works of this master were performed about the year 1470.
At the same time lived the Florentine Baccio Pintelli,[2] who dwelt in Rome during the pontificate of Sixtus IV., and who, in consideration of his abilities in architecture, was employed by that pope in all the fabrics undertaken in his time. It was after a design given by this master that the church of Santa Maria del Popolo was erected; many richly decorated chapels were constructed by him in that edifice, more particularly one belonging to Domenico della Rovere, Cardinal di San Clemente, and nephew of the pontiff above named.[3] The same pope caused a palace in the Borgo Vecchio to be erected from designs by Baccio Pintelli,[4] and that building was at the time considered a very handsome and judiciously constructed work. The Great Library, under the rooms of Niccola,[5] was also built by this master, as was
- ↑ This may be the “Berta di Segno” inscribed on the Register of Florentine Painters in the year 1424, and the artist alluded to by Filarete in his Trattato, who says he died at Lyons. — Ed. Flor. 1849.
- ↑ For a more satisfactory account of this remarkable artist, see Dr. Gaye in the Kunstblatt, 1836, No. 86. German edition of Vasari, vol. iii. p. 26.
- ↑ Piacenza, in his additions to Baldinucci, remarks here that the Cardinal Domenico della Rovere, of the noble Turinese family so called, could not be the nephew of Pope Sixtus, who was of very low birth. The church of Santa Maria del Popolo, was probably built from 1472 to 1477.
- ↑ Or Pontelliy as he subscribes himself.
- ↑ Pope Nicholas V.
