afterwards Bronzino painted the portrait of Andrea Doria, for Monsignore Giovio, who was his friend; and for Bartolommeo Bettini he painted the portraits of Dante, Petrarch, and Boccaccio, half-length figures of great beauty, with which Bettini has filled a lunette in his chamber. Having finished these pictures, Bronzino took the likeness of Bonaccorso Pinadori, as he did that of Ugolino Martelli, with those of Messer Lorenzo Lenzi, now Bishop of Permo; of Pier Antonio Bandini, and of his wife. Nay, at this time, Agnolo took the portraits of so many persons that, to name them all, would lead me too far; let it suffice to say that they were all most natural, executed with extraordinary care, and finished with a delicacy which left nothing to desire.
For Bartolommeo Panciatichi, Bronzino painted two large pictures of the Madonna, with other figures, and these are beautiful to a marvel; he also took the portraits of Bartolommeo and his wife, both so natural that they appear to be living, and want nothing but the breath of life. For the same person Agnolo painted a picture of Christ on the Cross; and this is executed in a manner which proves that the artist really drew from a dead body fixed to a cross, so complete is the perfection of every part. For Matteo Strozzi he painted, in fresco, a Pieta, with Angels in a Tabernacle, at Matteo’s villa of San Casciano.[1] This was a beautiful work, as was also a Birth of Christ, which he painted for Filippo d’Averardo Salviati, in a small picture, the minute figures of which are unequalled, as every one knows, seeing that the work is now engraved. For Maestro Francesco Montevarchi, a distinguished naturalist, Bronzino painted a Madonna, with some small pictures, which are very graceful. He also assisted his master, Pontormo, to paint the Villa of Carreggi, where he executed five figures on the corbels of the vaulting; Fortune, Fame, Peace, Justice, and Prudence namely, with some Children, which are admirably done.
The Duke Alessandro being then dead, and Duke Cosimo elected, Bronzino assisted Pontorno at the Loggia of Castello; and for the nuptials of the most illustrious Lady I.eonora de Toledo, wife of Duke Cosimo, he painted two Stories of chiaro-scuro in the Court of the Medici Palace. On the Pedestal which supported the Horse made by Tribolo, he
- ↑ This Tabernacle, observes Bottari, is at some distance from the Villa. The painting he described as then (1750) in a grievous condition.
