Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 3.djvu/92

84 age, and not a little obstinate, a just man in bis way and very exact in his dealings, whether as regarded his own interest or that which belonged to another, nor ever desiring more than his due; but he would never give credit to any one, and from all for whom he executed works of any kind he demanded earnest-money.” For this cause Lorenzo de’ Medici always called him Caparra, by which name he soon became known to many others also. To his shop this Caparra or Niccolo Grosso, had a sign affixed, on which he had caused books burning to be represented, and to any one who requested time for his payments, Niccolb would reply, “I cannot give it, for my books are burning, as you see, so that no more debtors can be inscribed therein.”

Niccolo Grosso had received orders to make a pair of andirons for the captains of the Parte Guelfa, and these being duly finished, were more than once sent for, but Niccolo constantly replied, “here do I labour and toil on this anvil, and hereon it is that I will have my money paid me.” Whereupon the captains again sent to demand the work ordered, causing Niccolo to be told at the same time that he might go to fetch his money and should be paid immediately, but he obstinately replied that they should first bring him the the money. The Froveditore thereupon fell into a rage, for the captains desired to see the work, and he sent a message to Niccolo, reminding him that he had already received one half of the money, and bidding him once more send the andirons, when he should be paid the remainder. Hearing this, Caparra acknowledged it to be true, and gave one of the audirons to the messenger, saying, here, carry them this one, for that belongs to them, and if it please them, bring me back the rest of the money, then I will send the other andiron, but not before, for that other belongs to me.” The officials having seen the admirable work he had made for them, despatched his money to the shop forthwith, whereupon he sent them the remaining andiron. I find it further related, that Lorenzo de’ Medici desired to have various kinds of iron work prepared, intending to send them to different places as presents, and to the end that the excellence of Caparra might be made known. He