Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/244

236 Spaniard, Alfonso Barughetta,nota and many other very celebrated artists, were of the number.nota

Baccio frequented the hall more constantly than any of the other artists, and had even made a counterfeit of the key thereof: it thus happened that in the year 1512, when Piero Soderini was deposed from the government, and the house of Medici restored to its position, Baccio entered the hall secretly and alone, during the tumults consequent on the changes then ensuing, when he cut the cartoon into numerous pieces. The cause of this action not being known, some said that Baccio had torn up the cartoon for the purpose of taking certain portions to himself, and so using them at his convenience; others thought he had done it with a view to deprive other young artists of the advantages to be derived from the study thereof; some declared that he was led thereto by his affection for Leonardo da Vinci, whose reputation had been sensibly diminished by this cartoon of Michelagnolo’s; but others, perhaps interpreting the matter more truly, attributed the deed to Baccio’s hatred of Michelagnolo, a feeling of which he gave full evidence through all his after life. The loss of the cartoon was not a small one to the city, and the blame cast on Baccio was very heavy, since he was justly declared by every one to have proved himself most envious and malignant.

Baccio afterwards prepared certain cartoons with whitelead and charcoal—one in particular—a nude figure of Cleopatra, which was exceedingly beautiful; this he gave to the goldsmith Piloto. He had already obtained the reputation of being a great designer, and now wished to acquire the art of painting with colours also, in the firm belief that he should, not only equal Buonarroti, but even surpass him greatly in both branches of art. Having prepared the cartoon of a Leda, with the Egg, whence proceeded Castor and Pollux, in her