Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/196

188 addition to the ancient dwelling, in the space of four weeks, which caused astonishment in all who beheld it. This was effected by Tribolo, the painter Andrea di Cosimo, and myself, with the aid of some ninety sculptors and painters of the city, masters and disciples included, all of whom, working for ten days, completed the adorning of the house with suitable decorations, as also the painting of the galleries with the courts and other entrances and passages, making all the preparations needful on such an occasion and suitable to those high nuptials.

Among these decorations, Tribolo executed two figures of Victory in mezzo rilievo, which served as the ornament of the principal portal or gate of entrance; these figures were supported by two large termini, which also bore the arms of the Emperor, pendent from the neck of an Eagle, in full relief, and which was very beautiful. The same artist likewise executed figures of boys in full relief, and of large size, which were placed on each side of certain busts, forming the decoration over the doors of the rooms, and these too were very highly extolled.

While the marriage festivities were proceeding, Tribolo received letters from Bologna whereby his great friend Messer Pietro del Magno entreated him to repair to that city, there to execute an historical representation in marble, three braccia and a half high, for the Madonna di Galiera, where an exceedingly beautiful framework, also in marble, had already been prepared. Wherefore Tribolo, not having any thing else to do for the moment, proceeded thither, and having prepared the model for a Modonna ascending into heaven with the twelve Apostles in various attitudes beneath, he set hand to the work; but although the model gave much satisfaction and was indeed exceedingly beautiful, yet the sculptor proceeded with little pleasure to himself, the marble employed being that of Milan, coarse, spotted, and bad, insomuch that the poor Tribolo seemed to be throwing his pains away, and felt no particle of that delight in his task which is enjoyed by those who work in marble when they find a good piece beneath their hands, and see that the finished statue will show a surface precisely similar to that of the living flesh.

Tribolo had nevertheless almost entirely completed the