Page:Vasari - Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculptors, and Architects, volume 5.djvu/148

136 seasons. Among these peculiarly arranged divisions were two long ovals, wherein were the figures of the Sun and Moon, and between them was a figure representing or typifying Isaias, a city of Egypt: this figure, standing before the temple of the goddess Pallas, implored the gift of Wisdom, as if the artist proposed to signify that the blessing to be first of all entreated for the children who should be born was that of wisdom and goodness. The design for this work was always preserved with great care by Piero as a beautiful and valuable jewel, which indeed it was.

No long time after the completion of that painting, the above-named Piero and other friends, having written to Francesco to the intent that he would do well to return to his native land, since it was almost certain that he would there be received into the service of the Duke Cosimo, who had no masters about him but such as were slow and irresolute, he finally determined (but principally confiding in the favour of Messer Alamanno Salviati, brother of the Cardinal, and uncle to the Duke,) to reinstate himself in Florence. Having returned accordingly, before he attempted any other thing, Francesco depicted for the above-named Messer Alamanno, an exceedingly beautiful figure of Our Lady, which he executed in a room then held by Francesco del Prato, in the House of Works of Santa Maria del Fiore, and where that Francesco, from having been a goldsmith and master in Tarsia, had just then set himself to the casting of small figures in bronze and to painting, in both which he succeeded to his no small honour as well as profit.

In this place then, I say, where Francesco dal Prato was installed by virtue of his office as superintendent of the wood-works performed in the cathedral, laboured Francesco Salviati also: and among other pictures he painted a Portrait of his friend Piero di Marcone, with that of Avveduto del Cegia, the fur-dresser, who was likewise his friend. This Avveduto has, indeed, very many of the works of Salviati in