Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/66

58 remarked, does of its nature become evermore darker with time, and is thus injurious to the other colours used with it, had he not done this, I believe that the work would now be as fresh as when he painted it; whereas, it is on the contrary, not a little darkened.

I have thought proper to make these remarks at the close of this life, to the end, that all may discern the labour, study, and care to which this honoured artist constantly subjected himself, and with a view, more particularly, to the benefit of other painters, who may learn from what has been said, to avoid those impediments, from the influence of which the genius and judgment of Raphael availed to secure him. I will also add the further observation, that every man should content himself with performing such works as he may reasonably be supposed to be capable of and equal to, by his inclination and the gifts bestowed on him by nature, without seeking to contend for that which she has not qualified him to attain, and this let him do, that he may not uselessly spend his time, fatiguing himself vainly, nay, not unfrequently, to his own injury as well as discredit. Let it be observed, moreover, that when what has been accomplished suffices, it is not good to make further efforts, merely in the hope of surpassing those who by some special gift of nature, or by the particular favour accorded to them by the Almighty, have performed, or are performing, miracles in the art; for it is certain, that the man who has not the needful endowments, let him labour as he may, can never effect those things to which another, having received the gift from nature, has attained ivithout difficulty; and of this we have an example among the old masters in Paolo Uccello, who, struggling against the natural bent of his faculties to make progress on a given path, went ever backwards instead. The same thing has been done in our own days, and but a short time since, by Jacopo da Pontormo; nay, examples have been seen in the experience of many others, as we have said before, and as will often be said again. And this is permitted to occur, perhaps, in order that when Heaven has distributed its favours to man-