r; (and by
Attavante,[22]) who was also called Vante, of whom we have spoken in
another place, particularly with regard to those of his works which are
in Venice; with respect to which I included word for word a note sent to
me by certain gentlemen of Venice, contenting myself, in order to
recompense them for the great pains that they had taken to discover all
that is to be read there, with relating the whole as they wrote it,
since I had no personal knowledge of these works on which to form a
judgment of my own.

FOOTNOTES:

[22] The words in brackets have been added to correct an obvious
omission in the text. The account of Attavante is to be found at the end
of the Life of Fra Giovanni Angelico.

GHERARDO

GHERARDO

ILLUMINATOR OF FLORENCE

It is certain that among all the enduring works that are made in colours
there is none that resists the assault of wind and water better than
mosaic. And well was this known in his day to the elder Lorenzo de'
Medici of Florence, who, like a man of spirit given to investigating the
memorials of the ancients, sought to bring back into use what had been
hidden for many years, and, since he took great delight in pictures and
sculptures, could not fail to take delight also in mosaic. Wherefore,
seeing that Gherardo, an illuminator of that time and a man of inquiring
brain, was investigating the difficulties of that calling, he showed him
great favour, as one who ever assisted those in whom he saw some germ of
spirit and intellect. Placing him, therefore, in the company of Domenico
del Ghirlandajo, he obtained for him from the Wardens of Works of S.
Maria del Fiore a commission for decorating the chapels of the
transepts, beginning with that of the Sacrament, wherein lies the body
of S. Zanobi. Whereupon Gherardo, growing ever in keenness of
intelligence, would have executed most marvellous works in company with
Domenico, if death had not intervened, as may be judged from the
beginning of that chapel, which remained unfinished.

Gherardo, in addition to his mosaics, was a most delicate illuminator,
and he also made large figures on walls. Without the Porta alla Croce
there is a shrine in fresco by his hand, and there is another in
Florence, much extolled, at the head of the Via Larga. On the facade of
the Church of S. Gilio at S. Maria Nuova, beneath the stories painted by
Lorenzo di Bicci, wherein is the consecration of that church by Pope
Martin V, Gherardo de