DESCRIPTION OF THE WORKS OF GIORGIO VASARI,
PAINTER AND ARCHITECT OF AREZZO.
[born 1512[1]—died 1574.]
Having hitherto treated of the works of others with as much care, sincerity, and uprightness as I have been able to command, I will now, at the end of these my labours, gather together, and make known to the world, such works as by the Divine Goodness I have myself been permitted to accomplish. For although these have not attained to the perfection that I could desire, yet whosoever shall examine them with unprejudiced eyes, will perceive that they have been executed by me with study, care, and loving labour; wherefore, if they be not worthy of praise, they will at least be allowed to merit excuse. They are laid open, moreover, to the eyes of all, and cannot be concealed. Wherefore, as their defects may perchance be described by some other, it were better that I should myself confess the truth, and accuse them with my own lips of those imperfections, whereof none can be more firmly convinced than myself. But of this I am sure, that if no excellence be discovered in my works, there will at least be found an ardent wish to do well, as I have before said, with great and enduring industry, and a true love for these our Arts.
And now shall it happen, according to the laws usually prevailing, that having thus openly confessed my shortcomings, a great part thereof shall be forgiven to me.
To begin then with my first beginnings, I observe that these have been sufficiently insisted on, in remarks previously made concerning the origin of my family,[2] my birth, my childhood, and the affection with which I was led into the paths of Art, more especially that of Design, by my father Antonio, who perceived me to be much disposed thereto.
Of all these things I have spoken in the Life of Luca Signorelli of Cortona, my kinsman, in that of Fran-
- ↑ That our author was born in 1512 is ascertained from a letter written by him to Francesco de’ Medici, on the 10th April, 1573, where he says, “This time I feel weary, nay, exhausted; I am now sixty years old, and the fatigues to be endured in these works are such that my life can support them no longer. See Gaye, Carteggio inedilo dc Ariisii, vol. iii. p. 371.
- ↑ In the Life of Lazzaro Vasari. See vol. ii. of the present work, p. 49, et seq.
