Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/101

Rh departed masters, and which had been the objects of his study in his childish years; nor did he neglect the works of the more renowned masters who were then living, and who were reputed the best artists of Florence, where, by the intervention of his friends, he did himself receive the commission for a picture, as will be related hereafter.

It happened one day that many artists being with him and having assembled to do him honour; painters, sculptors; architects, goldsmiths, carvers in marble, and carvers in wood, all met together according to the ancient custom, some to see, to hear, and to accompany Perino, others to observe the differences of practice existing between the artists of Rome and those of Florence, the greater number perchance for the purpose of hearing the censures and praises which artists are in the frequent habit of uttering in respect to each other: it happened, I say, that thus conversing together of one thing and another, in the course of their visits to different churches, where they examined the productions of the masters, ancient and modern, they came to that of the Carmine, with intent to see the chapel of Masaccio. All stood looking attentively at the paintings, and many were the praises of the master which were uttered in various phrase; every one expressing his surprise that he should have displayed so much judgment, and that, having at the time when he lived no other works to study than those of Griotto, his own productions should have so much of the modern manner in the design, the imitation of form, and in the colouring: some remarking further, that Masaccio had found means to exhibit all the niceties of art in the facility of his manner; nay, more, in respect of boldness, relief, and readiness in execution, there had even yet been no artist among all those who had laboured, of whom it could be affirmed that he had equalled Masaccio.

This sort of discourse pleased Perino well, and replying to all those artists who were thus speaking, he made answer in these words,—“I will not deny but that what you say may be true, nay, much besides might be said to the same effect; but that there is no master who can equal this manner, is what I must hesitate to admit now and always. Nay, furthermore, I must even aver, if it may be done with the permission of the company, not from contempt, but for the sake of truth, that I know many who have more boldness as