and the Dan, which, pouring forth
water, were to form the Jordan. Jacopo da Pontormo was requested to
execute this work by Messer Pier Francesco Riccio, at that time
major-domo to the Duke, and by Tribolo, but he would not do it, on the
ground that he did not think that the time given, which was only six
days, would be enough for him; and the same refusal was made by
Ridolfo Ghirlandajo, Bronzino, and many others. Now at this time
Giorgio Vasari, having returned from Bologna, was executing for Messer
Bindo Altoviti the altar-piece of his chapel in S. Apostolo at
Florence, but he was not held in much consideration, although he had
friendship with Tribolo and Tasso, because certain persons had formed
a faction under the protection of the above-named Messer Pier
Francesco Riccio, and whoever was not of that faction had no share in
the favours of the Court, although he might be able and deserving.
This was the reason that many who, with the aid of so great a Prince,
would have become excellent, found themselves neglected, none being
employed save those chosen by Tasso, who, being a gay person, got
Riccio so well under his thumb with his jokes, that in certain affairs
he neither proposed nor did anything save what was suggested by Tasso,
who was architect to the Palace and did all the work. These men, then,
having a sort of suspicion of Giorgio, who laughed at their vanities
and follies, and sought to make a position for himself rather by means
of the studies of art than by favour, gave no thought to his claims;
but he was commissioned by the Lord Duke to execute that canvas, with
the subject described above. This work he executed in chiaroscuro, in
six days, and delivered it finished in the manner known to those who
saw what grace and adornment it conferred on the whole decoration, and
how much it enlivened that part of the temple that stood most in need
of it, amid the magnificence of that festival. Tribolo, then (to
return to the point whence, I know not how, I digressed), acquitted
himself so well, that he rightly won the highest praise; and the Duke
commanded that a great part of the ornaments that he placed between
the columns should be left there, where they still are, and
deservedly.

For the Villa of Cristofano Rinieri at Castello, while he was occupied
with the fountains of the Duke, Tribolo made for a niche over a
fish-pond which is at the head of a fowling-place, a river-god of
grey-stone, of the size of life,