Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/204

196 Pingebat docte Zeusis, condehat et aedes
 * Nicon; Pan capripes, fistula prima tua est.

Non tamen ex vobis mecum certaverit ullus
 * Quae tres fecistis, unicus haec facio.

This master died in 1461, having added new beauties to the art of miniature-painting, as is manifest from all his works, and further evidence of which will be found in certain examples from his hand, in our book of drawings- His manner was afterwards imitated by Girolamo Padovano, in the miniatures of certain books, which he adorned for Santa Maria Nuova in Florence, as it was by Gherardo, a Florentine miniaturist, and by Attavante, who was also called Vante. Of the latter, mention has been made elsewhere, more particularly of his works now preserved in Venice, respecting which I have carefully inserted a notice, sent to me by certain Venetian gentlemen, for whose satisfaction, since they had taken the pains to collect all they sent me, I have been willing to relate the whole as they wrote it, and the rather, as I had not the opportunity of forming a judgment from actual inspection.

Of all the enduring works performed by means of colour there is none better calculated to resist the attacks of air and water than mosaic; and well was this known to the elder