as he pleased and for such persons as chanced to he agreeable to him, insomuch that he was frequently sought by gentlemen who desired to possess some work from his hand, but for whom he would do nothing, an occurrence which on one occasion happened to the magnificent Ottaviano de’ Medici, whom he refused to serve as was desired. Yet at that very time he would probably be employing himself zealously for some inferior and plebeian person, although receiving only the vilest price for his labour. To the mason Rossino for example, a person of no small ingenuity in his way, and who knew how to profit by his simplicity, Puntormo gave a most exquisite picture of Our Lady as the payment for constructing certain chambers and other mason-work, which the builder had done for him j nay, so well did the worthy Rossino know how to manage his matters that in addition to the above-named picture, he contrived to extract from the hands of Puntormo a truly admirable portrait of Giulio, Cardinal de’ Medici, which Jacopo had copied from one by the hand of Raffaello.
Rossino furthermore obtained a small picture of the crucified Saviour from our artist, and a very beautiful one it is; but although the mason sold it to the magnificent Ottaviano de’ Medici above-mentioned as a work of Puntormo’s, it is nevertheless known certainly to be by Bronzino, who did it entirely with his own hand, while working with his master Jacopo, at the Certosa: for what cause the work afterwards remained in the possession of Puntormo, I know not. These three pictures received for his labours by the mason from Jacopo Puntormo, are now in the house of Messer Alessandro de’ Medici,[1] son of the before-mentioned Ottaviano.
But although the whimsical proceedings of Puntormo, his unsocial mode of life, and other eccentricities were but little liked, yet whoever shall be pleased to make his apology for the same may be well permitted to do so.
For we certainly owe him thanks for such works as he did perform, and for those which it did not please him to undertake, we are not called on either to censure or reproach him.[2] No artist is
