Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/242

234 treat this snow as though it were marble.” Whereupon, quickly laying his cloak aside, he plunged his hands into the snow, and assisted by other boys, taking the snow from places where there was too much, and adding to it where addition was required, he made the outline of a Marforio, eight braccia high, the figure lying down. This work caused infinite astonishment to the painter and all others who saw it, not so much for what Baccio had made of it, as for the spirit with which this little creature, quite a child, had set himself to undertake such a work.

Baccio was indeed already giving many proofs that he had more love for sculpture than for the work of the goldsmith. When he went to Pinzirimonte, a villa purchased by his father, for example, he would stand long before the labourers who were working without their upper clothing, and would draw the figures of these men with great zeal and delight, proceeding in like manner with respect to the cattle on the farm, which he would copy with equal care.

About the same time, it was his frequent habit to repair in the early morning to Prato, which was at no great distance from this villa, and where he would remain the whole day, drawing in the Chapel of the Deanery, from a work of Fra Filippo Lippi, nor did he cease until he had copied the whole, more particularly imitating the draperies of that master, who was most excellent in respect of drapery. Baccio early displayed much dexterity in the use of the pencil and pen, as well as the red and black chalk, which last is a soft stone procured from the mountains of France, and when carefully pointed, enables the artist to execute drawings of great delicacy.

These things making known to Michelagnolo the disposition and wishes of his son, he changed his purpose with respect to him, and being advised by his friends, he placed the boy under the care of Giovan-Francesco Rustici, one of the best sculptors of the city, and to whom Leonardo da Yinci resorted continually. The last named master also, having seen the drawings of Baccio, and being pleased with