wherein are seen perspectives and
other adornments very ingeniously composed. Domenico is said to have
been modest and gentle, and a man of singular amiability and most
liberal courtesy; and this is said to have done no less honour to his
name than the art of painting itself. His works date about the year of
our Lord 1436, and the last were a panel containing an Annunciation in
S. Trinita in Florence, and the panel of the high-altar in the Church of
the Carmine.

There lived at the same time and painted in almost the same manner,
although he made the colouring more brilliant and the figures lower, one
Alvaro di Piero, a Portuguese, who made many panels in Volterra, and one
in S. Antonio in Pisa, and others in other places, whereof, seeing that
they are of no great excellence, there is no need to make further
record. In our book there is a drawing made with great mastery by
Taddeo, wherein are Christ and two angels.

[Illustration: DOMENICO BARTOLI: MADONNA ORANS

(_Siena: Refugio. Panel_)]

LORENZO DI BICCI

LIFE OF LORENZO DI BICCI

PAINTER OF FLORENCE

When men who are excellent in any honourable exercise whatsoever
accompany their ability in working with gentle ways and good habits, and
particularly with courtesy, serving readily and willingly all who have
need of their assistance, they secure without fail, together with much
praise and profit for themselves, everything that in a certain sense is
desirable in this world; as did Lorenzo di Bicci, painter of Florence,
who, being born in Florence in 1400, precisely when Italy was beginning
to be harassed by the wars which shortly afterwards brought her to an
evil pass, was in very good credit almost from his childhood, for the
reason that, having learnt good ways under the discipline of his father
and the art of painting from the painter Spinello, he had ever the name
not only of an excellent painter, but of a most courteous and honourable
and able man. Lorenzo, then, young as he was, having made some works in
fresco both within and without Florence for the sake of practice,
Giovanni di Bicci de' Medici, seeing his good manner, caused him to
paint in the hall of the old house of the Medici--which afterwards came
into the possession of Lorenzo, brother of Cosimo the Elder, when the
great palace was built--all those famous men that are still seen there
to-day, very well preserved. This work finished, seeing that Lorenzo di
Bicci wished to exercise