r Luca
Torrigiani, who is very much my intimate and friend, and who desired to
have among the many things that he possesses of our art a picture by my
own hand, in order to keep it near him, I painted in a large picture a
nude Venus with the three Graces about her, one of whom is attiring her
head, another holds her mirror, and the third is pouring water into a
vessel to bathe her; which picture I strove to execute with the greatest
study and diligence that I was able, in order to satisfy my own mind no
less than that of so sweet and dear a friend. I also executed for
Antonio de' Nobili, Treasurer-General to his Excellency and my
affectionate friend, besides his portrait, being forced to do it against
my inclination, a head of Jesus Christ taken from the words in which
Lentulus writes of His effigy, both of which were done with diligence;
and likewise another somewhat larger, but similar to that named above,
for Signor Mandragone, now the first person in the service of Don
Francesco de' Medici, Prince of Florence and Siena, which I presented to
his lordship because he is much affected towards our arts and every
talent, to the end that he might remember from the sight of it that I
love him and am his friend. I have also in hand, and hope to finish
soon, a large picture, a most fanciful work, which is intended for
Signor Antonio Montalvo, Lord of Sassetta, who is deservedly the First
Chamberlain and the most trusted companion of our Duke, and so sweet and
loving an intimate and friend, not to say a superior, to me, that, if my
hand shall accomplish the desire that I have to leave to him a proof by
that hand of the affection that I bear him, it will be recognized how
much I honour him and how dearly I wish that the memory of a lord so
honoured and so loyal, and beloved by me, shall live among posterity,
seeing that he exerts himself willingly in favouring all the beautiful
intellects that labour in our profession or take delight in design.

For the Lord Prince, Don Francesco, I have executed recently two
pictures that he has sent to Toledo in Spain, to a sister of the Lady
Duchess Leonora, his mother; and for himself a little picture in the
manner of a miniature, with forty figures, what with great and small,
according to a very beautiful invention of his own. For Filippo Salviati
I finished not long since an altar-picture that is going to the Sisters
of S. Vincenzio at Prato, wherein on high is Our Lady arrived in Heaven