Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/240

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At the time when the Arts were enjoying much prosperity in Florence, by virtue of the favour and assistance accorded to them by the Magnificent Lorenzo de’ Medici the Elder, there lived in the city a goldsmith, named Michelagnolo di Yiviano of Gaiuole. This man worked admirably well with his chisels, prepared intagli, and executed enamels and nielli; he was, in short, an able master in all the works proper to his vocation. Michelagnolo had also considerable knowledge of, and much judgment in, jewels, which he set extremely well, and for his various advantages and acquirements, was chosen head of their craft by all the foreign masters of that calling, to whom he was ever ready to offer hospitality; as he also was to the young people of the city, and his shop was considered to be, as it truly was, the first in Florence.

To him it was that the Magnificent Lorenzo and all the house of Medici were accustomed to have recourse, for whatever might be demanded in his vocation, and for Giuliano, the brother of Lorenzo the Magnificent, Michelagnolo prepared all the ornaments of crests, helmets, and devices of various kinds, used for the tournament which Giuliano held on the Piazza di Santa Croce, all of which were finished with the most delicate mastery. This gained him a great reputation, and gave occasion to much intercourse between the goldsmith and the sons of the Magnificent Lorenzo, by whom his productions were ever highly valued, while their favour and friendship brought him great gains, by which, and by the many labours which he executed for all the city and the whole state, Michelagnolo became a rich man, as well as one of high repute among those of his art.

When the Medici left Florence in the year 1494, they committed much plate and goldsmiths’ work to the safe keeping of Michelagnolo, all of which was most secretly kept and carefully guarded by him until their return, Avlien the whole was faithfully restored, which caused him to be