Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/205

Rh following epitaph: Simoni Memmio pictorum omnium omnis cetatis celcberrimo, vixit arm. 60, mens. 2, d. 3. It will be seen by the specimens preserved in our book that Simon was not particularly excellent in design, but nature had well endowed him with inventive power, and he delighted in drawing from the life; in this respect he was considered so much the best master of his time, that Signor Pandolfo Malatesti despatched him to Avignon for the purpose of painting Messer Francesco Petrarca, at the request of whom Simon Memmi, so greatly to his own honour, then executed the portrait of Madonna Laura.

To reward talent largely, and to honour those who possess it, wherever they may be found, is, without doubt, an excellent, useful, and praiseworthy action; for there are many minds, which might remain dormant, if left without stimulus, but which, being excited by this allurement, put forth all their efforts, not only for the acquirement of their art, but to attain the utmost excellence therein; whereby they advance themselves to a useful and creditable station, doing honour to their country at the same time, and securing glory to their name, as well as riches and nobility to their