Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/130

118 lying down namely, which is the animal that always accompanies St. Luke the Evangelist, was displeasing to many among them, so they determined to choose another, and every member was called on to give his opinion on the subject, either by word of mouth or in a drawing. The most singular fancies, and the most beautiful as well as whimsical and extravagant of inventions, were accordingly presented. It is, however, not yet decided as to which of all among these proposals will be finally accepted.nota

Martino meanwhile, the disciple of Giovann’ Agnolo, having arrived in Florence from Messina, departed this life in the first-named city, but a few days after his arrival there; he was then buried in the new sepulchre which his master had constructed, and where no long time after, in the year 1564 that is to say, that Father, Fra Giovann’ Agnolo himself, was likewise interred with the most honourable obsequies. Among the solemnities was a very fine oration in praise of that excellent sculptor, and this was publicly pronounced in the Church of the Nunziata, by the most reverend and very learned Maestro Michelagnolo.

Our arts may indeed be truly said to be deeply indebted in many ways to Fra Giovann’ Agnolo, who bore infinite love to the same as well as to the artists by whom they are exercised; for, to say nothing of all besides, how largely serviceable has already been, and still more will be, that Academy to which he, in the manner above-described, may be almost said to have given origin, and which is now under the protection of the Signor Duke Cosimo, by whose command the society is at this time holding its assemblies in the new sacristy of San Lorenzo, wherein there are so many works in sculpture, by Michelagnolo Buonarroti.

Here then there have been, and still are, very many admirable productions displayed by our artists, moved as they are by emulation among themselves, and by the wish to prove themselves not unworthy academicians. In the obsequies of the above-named Buonarroti himself, for example,