Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/102

94 sudden inclination was awakened in him, and this became so passionate a desire for art, that he began without loss of time to scratch figures of animals on the walls and on stones with the point of his knife, and to draw them with pieces of charcoal, in such a manner that he caused no little amazement in those who beheld them. The report of Andrea’s new studies was soon bruited about among the country people, and reached the ears (as his good fortune would have it) of a Florentine gentleman called Bernardetto de’ Medici, whose property was situated in that neighbourhood. This gentleman then desired to know the boy, and having seen him, and found that he replied to his questions with considerable intelligence, he asked him if he would like to become a painter. To this Andrea made answer, that nothing could happen to him that would be so welcome, nor would any thing please him so much; wherefore, to the end that he might be made perfect in the art, Bernardetto took the boy with him to Florence, where he engaged him to work with one of those masters who were then esteemed the best. Thenceforward Andrea continued to practise the art of painting, and devoting himself entirely to the studies connected therewith: he displayed very great intelligence in the difficulties of his calling, and more particularly in design. Tn the colouring of his works, he was not so happy; here there was a something crude and harsh, which detracted greatly from the beauty and grace of the picture, depriving it of the charm of softness, which in his colouring was never to be found. He displayed extraordinary power in the movements of his figures, and great force in the heads, whether male or female, giving them aspects of much gravity and an extreme earnestness of expression. He drew them also exceedingly well. Among the earliest works of this master, are those in San Miniato at Monte, which he executed in his first youth. They are in the cloister as you ascend from the church to go into the convent; and here he painted a fresco, wherein is depicted the parting of San Miniato and San Cresci from their father and mother. In