Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/104

96 bottega of Ridolfo Ghirlandajo, a part of which were sent abroad, while the rest were for persons in the city; I propose to speak solely of those which he painted when rather the friend and competitor of Ridolfo than his disciple, or of such works as he performed when he was so much the friend of Andrea del Sarto, as to have no greater pleasure than that of observing Andrea in his workshop, and learning from his experience. Then Domenico would show to Andrea the attempts he was making, and would take his opinion, the Detter to avoid such defects as those artists frequently fall into who never show any of their performances to the masters exercising the same art with themselves, and who, confiding too implicitly in their own judgment, would rather incur the censure of all men for the completed work, than improve it in its progress by aid of the warning, remarks, and counsels of affectionate friends.

Among the first pictures painted by Domenico Puligo, was an exceedingly beautiful one of Our Lady, for Messer Agnolo Della Stufa, who still retains it at his Abbey of Capalona in the neighbourhood of Arezzo, holding it in the highest estimation for the beauty of its colouring and for the care with which it has been executed. No less beautiful than this just named was another picture of the Virgin which Domenico painted for Messer Agnolo Nicolini, now Archbishop of Pisa and a Cardinal. This is at present in his house at the corner of the Pazzi in Florence; and there is another of similar size and equal beauty which is now in the possession of Filippo dell’ Antella, and also in Florence. In another, which is about three braccia in height, Domenico painted the Madonna a full length, with the Divine Child in her lap; a San Giovanni, also in childhood, and another head; this painting, which is considered to be one of the best ever executed by Domenico, seeing that it is not possible to find anything more beautifully coloured, is now in the possession of Messer Filippo Spini, treasurer to the most illustrious Prince of Florence, a gentleman of a magnificent spirit, and one who delights much in works of painting.

The many portraits taken by Domenico Puligo from the life are all beautiful as pictures, while they are besides good likenesses; but among the most admirable of all is that which he made of Monsignore, Messer Piero Carnesecchi, who was