Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 4.djvu/294

286 design, to any sculptor in his service, provided only that he would labour industriously, and was not displeased with this competition, which he hoped might incite Bandinelli to acquit himself better than he had done, and to produce such a work as he was well able to perform, if he did his best. Baccio therefore, perceiving himself to be beset by this competition, was greatly troubled, and fearing the displeasure of the Duke more than anything besides, he set himself anew to the making of models.

Meanwhile, he was very assiduous in waiting on the Duchess, and so wrought with her, that through her means he obtained permission to proceed to Carrara, for the purpose of having the marble brought to Florence. Arrived there accordingly, he caused the block to be diminished in such sort (as he had previously determined to do), that he reduced it to very mean proportions; thus depriving both himself and others of all opportunity for the production of a truly great and magnificent work of art therefrom, the accomplishment of anything really fine from that block being rendered thenceforth impossible.

Having returned to Florence, there was a long contention between Benvenuto and himself, the former having declared to the Duke that Baccio had spoiled the marble even before he had laid hands on it. But the Duchess nevertheless contrived at length that the block should be given to Bandinelli, and commands were accordingly issued for its transportation from Carrara to the sea shore, the barque which was to bring it up the Arno so far as Signa being also prepared. Baccio likewise caused an enclosed space to be walled about in the Loggia of the piazza, and within this it was his intention to execute his statue.

Meanwhile he had employed himself in the preparation of cartoons from which certain pictures for the decoration of the Pitti Palace were to be painted; and these pictures were to be executed by a youth called Andrea del Minga, who handled the colours with tolerable ability. The subjects of these delineations were the Creation of Adam and Eve, with their Expulsion from Paradise by the Angel; a figure of Noah, and one of Moses with the Tables of the Law.