Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/13



it appears to be in a certain sort impossible that he who studiously imitates and carefully pursues the footsteps of some excellent master in our arts, should fail to become very nearly similar, at least in certain points, to the person thus imitated, yet we have very frequently to remark that the sons and brothers of distinguished men do but rarely equal their forerunners; nay, rather, that they do wonderfully degenerate from the same; and this is not, as I believe, because the qualities of their blood have failed to inspire them with the same readiness of mind and an equal amount of genius, but comes rather from a totally different cause—from the too perfect ease and enjoyment secured to them namely,' and from that abundance of possessions and indulgences which but too often prevents men from being zealous in their studies and diligent in the labours of their art. Yet I will not affirm this rule to be so entirely without exception, as to preclude the occasional occurrence of the contrary.

David and Benedetto Ghirlandajo were indeed endowed with good genius, and might, without doubt, have pursued the footsteps in art of their brother Domenico; yet they did not do so, but on the death of their said brother they departed to such an extent from the true methods of proceeding, that the one, Benedetto that is to say, wandered long in aimless