Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/121

Rh power to approach the ability of him who has taught us the true mode of labouring in our calling; whence it is that disciples attain to such a point as afterwards to compete with their masters, and even to surpass them; since there is but little difficulty in adding to what has been already discovered by others. That this is true is made manifest by Francesco di Pesello, who so closely imitated the manner of Fra Filippo, that he would, without doubt, have surpassed that master by very much, had not death so prematurely taken him from us. It is also well known, that Pesello imitated the manner of Andrea dal Castagno, and as he found great pleasure in delineating animals, he constantly kept several of various sorts living in his house, depicting them with so much truth and animation, that there was no master at that time who, in this branch of art, was at all equal to him. This artist continued under the discipline of Andrea to the age of thirty years, learning, from his precepts, to become an excellent master; wherefore, having given a good proof of his ability, he was appointed by the Signoria of Florence to paint a picture in tempera, the subject of which was the Magi bringing offerings to Christ, and the work was placed in the centre of the staircase of their palace. Pesello acquired great reputation by this picture, principally because he has executed many portraits in it, among others that of