Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/250

242 Medici, who was ever wont to favour men of parts and distinction, to the end that he might receive a commission for the execution of some statue, to be placed in the court of the Medici palace in Florence. Wherefore having reached the last-named city, he produced an Orpheus in marble, who appeases Cerberus by his songs and the sounds of his lyre, and thereby moves Hell itself to compassion. In this work Bandinelli imitated the Apollo Belvedere of Rome, and was deservedly commended for the same; for although the Orpheus has not the attitude of the Apollo, Baccio has nevertheless very nicely copied the manner of the torso, and of all the limbs of the Apollo. The statue being finished, it was placed, by command of the above-named Cardinal Giulio, in the court of the palace, on a carved pedestal executed by the sculptor Benedetto da Rovezzano, and this was done while the Cardinal governed in Florence. But as Baccio had no regard for architecture, so he did not consider his work with the sound judgment of Donatello, who, for his David had caused a simple column to be erected, on which he then placed the pedestal, which he had cleft and opened in the lower part, to the end that he who entered from without could see the opposite door, that conducting to the other court namely, from the portal at which he was standing; whereas Baccio, not exercising so much prudence, had caused his statue to be placed on a broad and massive base which impedes the view of all who enter, and, covering the entrance to the farther court, does not permit the spectator to ascertain whether the palace extends itself beyond the first court, or is restricted thereto.

Now the cardinal Giulio had caused a most beautiful villa to be erected on the Monte Mario at Rome, and here he desired to have two colossal figures placed; he accordingly commissioned Baccio, who was always eager to execute giants, to prepare the same, they being to be formed in stucco. These figures he completed in due time; they are eight braccia high, and stand on each side of the gate which leads into the grove, nor are they considered to be other than tolerably good productions.