banners of the Potenze,[6] which
used every year to hold tournaments and keep the city festive. In short,
all sorts of works used to be executed in his shop, so that many young
men frequented it, each learning that which pleased him best.

[Footnote 6: See note on p. 59, Vol. VI.]

Thus Antonio del Ceraiolo, having been with Lorenzo di Credi, was then
with Ridolfo, and afterwards, having withdrawn by himself, executed many
works and portraits from life. In S. Jacopo tra Fossi there is by the
hand of this Antonio an altar-piece, with S. Francis and S. Mary
Magdalene at the foot of a Crucifix; and in the Church of the Servites,
behind the high-altar, a S. Michelagnolo copied from that by Ghirlandajo
in the Ossa of S. Maria Nuova.

Another disciple of Ridolfo, who acquitted himself very well, was
Mariano da Pescia, by whose hand is a picture of Our Lady, with the
Infant Christ, S. Elizabeth, and S. John, executed very well, in the
above-mentioned chapel of the Palace, which Ridolfo had previously
painted for the Signoria. The same Mariano painted in chiaroscuro the
whole house of Carlo Ginori, in the street which takes its name from
that family, executing there stories from the life of Samson, in a very
beautiful manner. And if this painter had enjoyed a longer life than he
did, he would have become an excellent master.

A disciple of Ridolfo, likewise, was Toto del Nunziata, who painted for
S. Piero Scheraggio, in company with his master, an altar-piece of Our
Lady, with the Child in her arms, and two Saints.

[Illustration: THE CRUCIFIXION WITH SS. FRANCIS AND MARY MAGDALENE

(_After the panel by =Antonio del Ceraiolo=. Florence: Accademia, 163_)

_Brogi_]

But dear beyond all the others to Ridolfo was a disciple of Lorenzo di
Credi, who was also with Andrea del Ceraiolo, called Michele, a young
man of an excellent nature, who executed his works with boldness and
without effort. This Michele, then, following the manner of Ridolfo,
approached him so closely that, whereas at the beginning he received
from his master a third of his earnings, they came to execute their
works in company, and shared the profits. Michele looked upon Ridolfo
always as a father, and loved him, and also was so beloved by him, that,
as one belonging to Ridolfo, he has ever been and still is known by no
other name but Michele di Ridolfo. These two, I say, loving each other
like father and son, executed innumerable works in company.