Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/332

324 deserved to be admired, seeing that he was without doubt most truly excellent.

There is no doubt that the emulation to which artists are impelled by their desire for glory is for the most part to be highly extolled, but whenever it happens that he who thus strives for distinction is too much inflated by vanity and pride, the ability of which he has sought to obtain the reputation is usually seen to resolve itself, after a certain lapse of time, into mere smoke and mist. Never will that artist advance to perfection who cannot perceive his own defects, and who has no fear of flnding himself surpassed by the works of others; much more safely does the hope of the modest and timid student conduct him towards his object, while, earnestly pursuing an upright walk in life, he does due honour to the works of good masters and labours with all diligence to imitate their productions,—much more certainly, I say, does the hope of such a student conduct him to the end in view, than does that of one who has his head full of