Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/236

228 ward all wlio have given promise of distinction. Il Vinci then executed the statue in travertine, making it three braccia and a half high, and the work was highly applauded, more particularly for the figure of a little child, which, being placed at the foot of the statue, assists to support the cornucopia, and, notwithstanding the rugged and intractable character of the material, has all the softness and flexibility of life.

Luca subsequently sent orders to Carrara for the excavation of a block of marble, five braccia high and three wide; and of this II Vinci, who had seen sketches by Michelagnolo, representing Samson slaying a Philistine with the jaw-bone of an Ass, determined to make two statues, five braccia high, after a design of his own. Wherefore, while the marble was on its way, he set himself to prepare numerous models in varied attitudes, from which he chose one, and the marble having arrived, he commenced the execution of the work; this he brought to a tolerable degree of forwardness, evolving his design from the marble, after the manner of Michelagnolo, by due degrees, without injury to any part, and avoiding the commission of all errors. Every separate portion of this work, which stands forth in full relief, was executed, as well internally as on the exterior, by Piero himself, although a very laborious undertaking, and gives proof of extreme facility, extraordinary softness of manner also being perceptible throughout the whole work. But as this was a very fatiguing occupation, Vinci employed himself at intervals with other studies, and in labours of less importance: at the same time, therefore, he produced a small basso-rilievo in marble, representing Our Lady, with the Saviour, San Giovanni, and Sant’ Elizabetta; this also was, and still is, considered a work of singular excellence; it belonged to the illustrious Duchess, and is now among the most valued rarities in the Duke’s study.

Piero afterwards commenced a story in marble, executing the same, partly in mezzo-rilievo and partly in basso-rilievo. The height of this work was one braccio, the width a braccio and a half, and the subject is the Restoration of