Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 1.djvu/343

Rh in our days would be. The truth of what is here said may be seen at this day, among other instances, in certain coffers, elbow-seats, and cornices, in the chambers of the magnificent Lorenzo the Elder, of the house of Medici, on which were depicted—not by men of the common race of painters, but by excellent masters—all the jousts, tournaments, hunting parties and festivals, given by the duke, with other spectacles displayed, at that period, with so much judgment, such fertility of invention, and such admirable art. Such things, in brief, may be seen, not only in the palace and older houses belonging to the Medici, but relics of them remain in all the most noble dwellings of Florence. Nay, there are many of our nobles still attached to old usages, who will not permit these decorations to be removed for the purpoose of being replaced by ornaments of modern fashion. Dello, therefore, of whom we have said that he was a good painter, more especially of small figures, which he finished with much grace, devoted himself to this occupation for many years, to his great profit and advantage. He was almost exclusively employed in painting coffers, elbow-chairs, couches, and other things in the manner above described; insomuch that this may be said to have been his chief and peculiar profession. But, as nothing in this world remains fixed, or will long endure, however good and praiseworthy it may be, so, refining on this first mode of ornament, the custom prevailed, after no long time, of forming richer decorations, by carvings in natural wood, covered with gold, which did indeed produce most rich and magnificent ornaments; it also became usual to paint such matters of household use, as are above described, in oil, the subjects being beautifully depicted stories, which then proved, and still continue to make manifest, the riches and magnificence of the citizens who possessed, as well as the ability of the painters who adorned them. But let us come to the works of Dello, who was the first to devote himself diligently, and with good success, to undertakings of this character. In particular, he painted the entire furniture of a chamber for Giovanni dei Medici; a work which was then considered of rare excellence, and very beautiful of its kind; as certain relics which still remain