DAJO: PORTRAIT OF A LADY

(_Florence: Pitti, 224. Panel_)]

After he had executed these and many other pictures, Ridolfo, happening
to have in his house all the appliances for working in mosaic which had
belonged to his uncle David and his father Domenico, and having also
learned something of that work from the uncle, determined that he would
try to do some work in mosaic with his own hand. Which having done, and
finding that he was successful, he undertook to decorate the arch that
is over the door of the Nunziata, wherein he made the Angel bringing
the Annunciation to Our Lady. But, since he had not the patience for
putting together all those little pieces, he never again did any work in
that field of art.

For a little church of the Company of Wool-carders at the head of the
Campaccio, he painted in an altar-piece the Assumption of the Madonna,
with a choir of Angels, and the Apostles about the Sepulchre. But by
misadventure, the room in which the picture was having been filled in
the year of the siege with green broom for making fascines, the damp so
softened the gesso that it all peeled away; wherefore Ridolfo had to
repaint it, and made in it his own portrait. At the Pieve of Giogoli, in
a tabernacle that is on the high road, he painted Our Lady with two
Angels; and in another tabernacle opposite to a mill of the Eremite
Fathers of Camaldoli, which is on the Ema, beyond the Certosa, he
painted many figures in fresco. By reason of all which works, Ridolfo,
finding himself sufficiently employed, and living comfortably with a
good income, would by no means rack his brains to do all that he could
have done in painting, but rather became disposed to live like a
gentleman and take life as it came.

For the visit of Pope Leo to Florence, he executed in company with his
young men and assistants all the festive preparations in the house of
the Medici, and decorated the Sala del Papa and the adjoining rooms,
causing the chapel to be painted by Pontormo, as has been related. In
like manner, for the nuptials of Duke Giuliano and Duke Lorenzo he
executed the decorations and some scenery for comedies; and, since he
was much beloved by those lords for his excellence, he received many
offices by their means, and was elected to the Collegio as an honoured
citizen. Ridolfo did not disdain also to make pennons, standards, and
other suchlike things in plenty, and I remember having heard him say
that three times he had painted the