elebrated in proportion as men know that he
applied himself to this noble art not through necessity, but through a
true love of the art itself. This man, who was one of the disciples of
Donato, although I have placed him before his master because he died
long before him, was a somewhat sluggish person, but modest, humble, and
kindly in his dealings. There is by his hand, in Florence, the S. Philip
of marble which is on a pilaster on the outside of the Oratory of
Orsanmichele. This work was at first allotted to Donato by the Guild of
Shoemakers, and then, since they could not agree with him about the
price, it was transferred, as though in despite of Donato, to Nanni, who
promised that he would take whatsoever payment they might give him, and
would ask no other. But the business fell out otherwise, for, when the
statue was finished and set in its place, he asked a much greater price
for his work than Donato had done at the beginning; wherefore the
valuation of it was referred by both parties to Donato, the Consuls of
that Guild believing firmly that he, out of envy at not having made it,
would value it at much less than if it were his own work; but they were
disappointed in their belief, for Donato judged that much more should be
paid to Nanni for his statue than he had demanded. Being in no way
willing to abide by this judgment, the Consuls made an outcry and said
to Donato: "Why dost thou, after undertaking to make this work at a
smaller price, value it higher when made by the hand of another, and
constrain us to give him more for it than he himself demands? For thou
knowest, even as we do also, that from thy hands it would have come out
much better." Donato answered, laughing: "This good man is not my equal
in the art, and endures much more fatigue than I do in working;
wherefore, if you wish to give him satisfaction, like the just men that
I take you for, you are bound to pay him for the time that he has
spent." And thus the award of Donato was carried into effect, both
parties having agreed to abide by it.

This work stands well enough, and has good grace and liveliness in the
head; the draperies are not hard, and are in no wise badly arranged
about the figure. In another niche below this one there are four saints
in marble, which the same Nanni was commissioned to make by the Guild of
Smiths, Carpenters, and Masons; and it is said that, having finished
them all in the round and detached one from another, and having