Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/110

102 he was commissioned by the superintendents of works for Santa Maria del Fiore, to execute the figure of an Apostle of four braccia high. This was at the time when Giulio Cardinal de’ Medici was governing Florence; and at the same period four similar figures were given for execution to four different masters; one to Benedetto da Maiano namely, another to Jacopo Sansovino, a third to Baccio Bandinelli, and a fourth to Michelagnolo Buonarroti. The number of these statues was indeed to have been that of the apostles, and these twelve figures were to be placed in the same part of that magnificent church whereon Lorenzo di Bicci had painted his twelve apostles.

Andrea completed his work with admirable facility and with judgment greatly superior to the design; he acquired from it, therefore, if not equal praise with the other masters, yet nothing less than the reputation of an able and experienced artist, wherefore he continued ever after to be almost always employed in the works of that church, and executed the bust of Marsilio Ficino, still to be seen there, within the door leading to the canonicate. He likewise prepared a marble font which was sent to the king of Hungary, and by which he acquired very great honour. A marble tomb, also by his hand, was in like manner despatched to Strigonia, a city of Hungary; on this was a figure of the Virgin admirably executed, with many other figures, and in it was ultimately deposited the body of the Cardinal of Strigonia.

To Volterra Andrea sent two Angels of marble in full relief, and for the Florentine Marco del Nero, he executed a Crucifix