The same artist also produced an exceedingly beautiful female figure, two braccia high, intended to represent a Grace; but what became of it is not known, nor can the hands into which it has fallen be ascertained.
Horses in clay by this artist, and similar to those beforementioned, some bearing riders, and some fallen, with the cavaliers lying beneath them, abound in the dwellings of the citizens, these works having been presented to the persons possessing them, by Giovan-Trancesco, who was not as men are for the most part discourteous and avaricious, but most liberal and obliging, to those who were of the number of his friends—Dionigi da Diacceto, for example, a very excellent and much respected gentleman, who like Niccolb Buoni took charge of Bustici’s affairs, and was very much the friend of the latter, received many bassi-rilievi as gifts from his hands.
There was never a more amusing or more fanciful person than Giovan-Brancesco, nor could there well be a man who had more delight in animals. He had a hedgehog among others, which he had rendered so tame that it would lie under the table like a dog, but sometimes rolled itself against people’s legs, after a fashion that made the owners glad to draw them back into their own keeping: he had an eagle also, with a raven, which had been taught to speak so plainly, that he was frequently taken by those who heard and did not see him, for a human being. Giovan-Francesco also gave his attention to necromancy;[1] nay, according to what I am told, he caused his disciples and servants to suffer excessive terrors thereby, and was thus enabled to keep them in such
- ↑ An Italian commentator on the works of Vasari wouid have us he certain that the latter here means to speak only of sleight of hand, and that commentator may be right; but he who has read the Life of Pierino da Vinci (see voL iv. p. 220), to say nothing of many other passages to a similar effect, that might be cited from our author’s works, will at once perceive that Vasari’s belief in necromancy, chiromancy, et id germs omne, is a thing which may not be denied. That he had most high and reverend authority for his belief is however as undeniable; hear, for example, what the Spaniard, Mendoza, among others,—and writing of Vasari’s time— has to say on that subject:—“He (the Pope) will decide no question, he will take no journey, hold no sitting of the Consistory, do nothing, in short, without first consulting the stars; nay, the matter has come to such a pass, that very few Cardinals would transact an affair of any kind, were it but to buy a load of wood, except after consultation duly held with some Astrologer or Wizard.”
