Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/230

216 After the death of Andrea, his brother Jacopo, who had applied himself to sculpture and architecture, as we have before said, was occasionally employed; as, for example, in the year 1328, when the tower and gate of San Piero Gattolini were founded and built. It is also asserted that the four stone lions, which were placed on the four corners of the ducal palace of Florence, and entirely covered with gold, are from his hand. This work was severely criticised, a much heavier weight than was advisable having been laid on those points, without any reason for its being there; and many thought, that if those lions had been made hollow within, and constructed of plates of copper, gilded in the fire, they would have been much better suited to that place, as being much lighter and more durable. The horse, in full relief and gilded, which stands over one of the doors in Santa Maria del Fiore (the door leading to the oratory of the confraternity of St. Zenobius), is also said to be by this master. It was erected, as is affirmed, in memory of Piero Farnese, Captain of the Florentines; this I will not avouch, but I know nothing to the contrary. At the same period, Mariotto, the nephew of Andrea, painted the Paradise in fresco, still to be seen in the church of San Michele Bisdomini, in the Via de’ Servi, in Florence, with the picture of the Annunciation for the altar. He also painted a second picture, which contained many figures, for the lady Cecilia de’ Boscoli, which was likewise placed in the same church, near the door.

But among all the disciples of Orgagna, none was found