Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/238

230 and would have equalled the most distinguished in his calling, as his works amply prove, without requiring any other testimony. But the term assigned to his existence by Heaven was now at hand, all his plans were interrupted, the rapidity of his progress was suddenly brought to a close, and the world was thus deprived of many excellent works of art, with which, had Vinci lived, it would, without doubt, have been adorned.

Now, it happened at this time, and when Vinci, intent on the sepulchral monument of another, did not know that his own was preparing for him; it chanced, I say, that the Duke was obliged to send Luca Martini on matters of importance to Genoa, and the latter, as well because of his love for the company of Vinci, as in the hope of giving him some pleasure and amusement by the sight of Genoa, took our artist with him to that city, where Piero, by means of Martini, and while the latter was employed with his negotiations, received a commission from Messer Adamo Centurioni, for the execution of a figure of San Giovanni Battista, and for this he promptly prepared the model.

But Piero was now attacked by fever, and to increase his suffering, he was at the same time deprived of his friend, perhaps thereby to open a path by which fate might complete the destiny of Vinci. For it then became indispensable that Luca, for the furtherance of the affairs committed to his charge, should proceed to Florence, to confer with the Duke; wherefore, parting from his sick friend, to the great sorrow of both, he left him in the house of the Abate Nero, earnestly recommending Piero, who remained very reluctantly in Genoa, to his care. But Vinci, feeling himself to be getting worse every day, resolved to depart from that city, and having caused his disciple, Tiberio Cavalieri, to be sent for from Pisa, he had himself removed, with his aid, to Leghorn, which place he gained by sea, and was then conveyed in a litter to Pisa. It was evening when the sick man arrived in Pisa, but exhausted by the fatigues of the journey, the discomforts of the sea voyage, and the strength of the fever, he could obtain no repose through the night, and as the day was dawning, he passed to another life, not having yet completed his twenty-third year.

The death of Vinci caused much grief to all his friends,