o's hand.
In executing this work for the nuns of Faenza, Buffalmacco, who was
as eccentric in his dress as his behaviour, did not always happen to
wear the hood and mantle customary in those times, and the nuns who
sometimes looked at him through the screen which he had caused to be
made, began to say to the custodian that they objected to seeing him
always in his doublet. After he had reassured them, they remained
quiescent for a while. At length, as they always saw him attired
after the same fashion, they thought he must be the boy to mix the
colours and accordingly they induced the abbess to tell him that they
should like to see the master himself at work and not this other one
always. Buonamico, who always loved his joke, told them that so soon
as the master arrived he would let them know, although he was
sensible of the small amount of confidence which they placed in him.
Then he took a table and put another on the top of it, setting a
water jug on this, over the handle of which he put a hood and then
covered the rest of the pitcher in a civilian's mantle, fastening it
firmly about the tables. After this he put a brush in the spout from
which the water flows, and there left it. When the nuns returned to
see the work through an opening where he had torn the canvas, they
saw the supposed master in his attire. They believed that he was
working there to the utmost of his power, and would do much better
than the mere boy had done, so they were several days thinking of
nothing else. At last they were anxious to see what beautiful things
the master had made. Fifteen days had passed since Buonamico had set
foot in the place, and one night they went to see the paintings,
thinking that the master could no longer be there. They were covered
with confusion and blushes when one bolder than the rest discovered
the nature of the solemn master, who had not done a stroke in the
fortnight. When they learned that Buonamico had treated them
according to their deserts, and that the works which he had made were
excellent, they recalled him and he returned with much laughter and
joking to take up the work, making them see that there is a
difference between men and dummies, and that works must not always be
judged by the clothes of those who produce them. After a few days he
finished one subject there, with which they were very delighted since
it appeared to them to be satisfactory in all its parts, except that
the figures in the flesh c