utiful
stories on similar pieces of household furniture, which have made known,
as they still do, both the magnificence of the citizens who use them and
the excellence of the painters.

But to come to the works of Dello, who was the first who occupied
himself with diligence and good mastery in such labours; for Giovanni
de' Medici, in particular, he painted the whole furniture of an
apartment, which was held something truly rare and very beautiful of its
kind, as some relics demonstrate that are still left. And Donatello,
then quite young, is said to have assisted him, making there by his own
hand, with stucco, gesso, glue, and pounded brick, some stories and
ornaments in low-relief, which, being afterwards overlaid with gold,
made a beautiful accompaniment for the painted stories. Of this work and
many others like it Drea Cennini makes mention in a long discourse in
his work, whereof there has been enough said above; and since it is a
good thing to maintain some memory of these old things, I have had some
of them, by the hand of Dello himself, preserved in the Palace of the
Lord Duke Cosimo, where they are, and they will be ever worthy of being
studied, if only for the various costumes of those times, both of men
and women, that are seen in them. Dello also wrought the story of Isaac
giving his benediction to Esau, in fresco and with terra-verde, in a
corner of the cloister of S. Maria Novella.

A little after this work, being summoned to Spain to enter the service
of the King, he came into so great credit that no craftsman could have
desired much more; and although it is not known precisely what works he
made in those parts, it may be judged, seeing that he returned thence
very rich and highly honoured, that they were numerous and beautiful and
good. After a few years, having been royally rewarded for his labours,
Dello conceived the wish to return to Florence, in order to show his
friends how he had climbed from extreme poverty to great riches.
Wherefore, having gone for permission to that King, not only did he
obtain it readily (although the former would have willingly retained
him, if Dello had been so minded), but he was also made chevalier by
that most liberal King, as a greater sign of gratitude. Whereupon he
returned to Florence in order to obtain the banners and the confirmation
of his privileges, but they were denied him by the agency of Filippo
Spano degli Scolari, who had just come back from his victories