Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/258

250 to an extent beyond all other masters, is counted among the distinguished and eminent masters of our arts.

In his youth Andrea Verrocchio gave considerable attention to science, more especially to geometry. When occupied in goldsmith’s work he executed, among many other things, certain brooches or buttons for the copes used in the church of Santa Maria del Fiore in Florence, which are still in that cathedral, with several larger works: among these is a vase surrounded by figures of animals, garlands of flowers, and various fantasies, a work known to all goldsmiths, with another of similar kind, on which there is a dance of children, Vv'hich is very graceful and beautiful. These works affording proof of his competence, Andrea was appointed by the Guild of the Merchants to prepare two historical compositions in relief, for the two ends of the altar of San Giovanni; these works are in silver, and when completed acquired him high praise and a very great name. At that time, some of those large figures of the Apostles, in silver, which stand ordinarily on the altar of the Pope’s chapel in Rome, were wanting, with other ornaments, also in silver; wherefore, Andrea being sent for, the commission to prepare all that was required in that matter was given to him with great favour, by Pope Sixtus, when the master conducted the whole work to completion, with remarkable judgment and much diligence. Meanwhile, Andrea, perceiving that great store was set by the many antique statues and other things of that kind discovered in Rome, seeing too that the Pope commanded the bronze horse to be placed in