Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 2.djvu/495

Rh competition with Michael Angelo. The merchants above mentioned ultimately invited our artist to proceed to England where he executed many works in marble, bronze, and wood for the king, competing with other masters, who were natives of that country, to all of whom he proved himself superior. And now did Torrigiano receive so many rewards, and was so largely remunerated, that, had he not been a most violent, reckless, and ill-conducted person, he might there have lived a life of ease, and brought his days to a quiet close, but being what he was, his career was ended in a manner which was altogether the reverse of peaceful.

Leaving England, he next went to Spain, where he executed various works, which are dispersed about in different places, and are everywhere highly prized, but chief among them was a Crucifix in terra-cotta, which is considered to be the most admirable work in all Spain. For a monastery belonging to the monks of San Girolamo, which is situate at a short distance from the city of Seville, Torrigiano executed a second Crucifix, as also a figure of San Girolamo doing penance, and represented with his lion beside him. In the figure of the saint, our artist depicted an old House-Steward belonging to the Botti family, Florentine merchants settled in Spain.

A figure of the Virgin with the Divine Child in her arms, also executed at this time by Torrigiano, was found to be so