Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/342

328 terra-cotta; and, finding his poverty to demand some more effectual resource, he resolved, as he was a good designer, to give his attention to painting. In this pursuit he succeeded with no great difficulty, and soon acquired considerable facility in colouring, of which there are proofs in the many pictures which he left in different parts of his native city, more particularly in the smaller figures, to which he imparted a much better grace than is perceptible in the larger ones. And this peculiarity he turned to very good account, since it was the custom at that time for all citizens to have large coffers or chests of wood in their chambers, made in the manner of a sarcophagus, and having the covers or tops variously formed and decorated. There were none who did not cause these chests to be adorned with paintings; and in addition to the stories which it was usual to depict on the front and cover of these coffers, the ends, and frequently other parts, were most commonly adorned with the arms and other insignia of the respective families. The stories which decorated the front of the chest were, for the most part, fables taken from Ovid, or other poets; or narratives related by the Greek and Latin historians; but occasionally they were representations of jousts, tournaments, the chase, lovetales, or other similar subjects, according as it best pleased the different owners of the chests. The inside of these coffers was then lined with linen, woollen, or such stuffs as best suited the condition and means of those who caused them to be made, for the better preservation of the cloth vestments and other valuable commodities stored in them. But what was more to the purpose for our artist, these chests were not the only movables adorned in the manner described, since the balustrades and cornices, the litters, elbow-chairs, couches, and other rich ornaments of the chambers, which in those days were of great magnificence, were beautified in like manner, as may be seen from numberless examples still remaining throughout all parts of our city. And this custom prevailed to such an extent for many years, that even the most distinguished masters employed themselves in painting and gilding such things. Nor were they ashamed of this occupation, as many