THE FLORENTINE PAINTER, LORENZO DI CREDI.
[born 1449—died 1536.]
While Maestro Credi, a goldsmith of Florence, who was very eminent in his day, was labouring in his native city with much reputation and a good name, a certain Andrea Sciarpelloni, who had a son named Lorenzo, a youth of admirable genius and excellent dispositions, determined to place the latter with him, to the intent that he might learn the art of the goldsmith.[1] And as the master was no less able and willing to teach, than the scholar was diligent and anxious to learn, so did Lorenzo quickly acquire all that was appointed to him, insomuch that no long time had passed before he became, not only a careful and good designer, but so able and finished a goldsmith, that no youth of his time could pretend to equal him. This redounded greatly to the honour of the master Credi also, and from that time forward Lorenzo was no longer called Sciarpelloni, but was named Lorenzo di Credi by all who knew him.
Encouraged by his success, Lorenzo placed himself with Andrea del Verrocchio, who had then taken it into his head to devote himself to painting, and under him, having Pietro Perugino and Leonardo da Vinci for companions and friends, although they were his rivals, Lorenzo di Credi diligently studied the art of the painter. Being greatly pleased with the manner of Leonardo, Lorenzo succeeded so happily in the imitation of that manner, as to surpass all who attempted it, none evincing so much ability or finishing their works with so much care, nor did any approach more nearly to the manner of Leonardo in these imitations than did Lorenzo di Credi; of this many proofs may be seen in various designs which I have in my own book, some done with the pen, some with chalk, and others with water-colours; among these examples are copies of medals in clay, they are done on waxed cloth with a liquified earth or terra, and the copy is
- ↑ Gaye has made us acquainted with the testament of Lorenzo di Credi, and from this document it might be inferred that Lorenzo was not the son of Sciarpelloni, but of Credi himself, since he is there called Laurentius Andriae Credi. See Carteggio inedito, vol. ii. p. 372.
