nd he would have deserved and obtained much greater praise with
other works, if he had not died, as he did, while still young. None the
less, by reason of these few works Nanni was held a passing good
sculptor; and being a citizen, he obtained many offices in his native
city of Florence, and because he bore himself like a just and reasonable
man both in these and in all his other affairs, he was greatly beloved.
He died of colic in the year 1430, at the age of forty-seven.

LUCA DELLA ROBBIA

[Illustration: CANTORIA

(_After_ Luca della Robbia. _Florence: Opera del Duomo_)

_Anderson_]

LIFE OF LUCA DELLA ROBBIA

SCULPTOR OF FLORENCE

Luca Della Robbia, sculptor of Florence, was born in the year 1388 in
the house of his ancestors, which is in Florence, below the Church of S.
Barnaba; and therein he was honestly brought up until he had learnt not
only to read and write but also to cast accounts, in so far as it was
likely to be needful, after the custom of most Florentines. And
afterwards he was placed by his father to learn the art of the goldsmith
with Leonardo di Ser Giovanni, who was then held the best master of that
art in Florence. Now, having learnt under this man to make designs and
to work in wax, Luca grew in courage and applied himself to making
certain things in marble and in bronze, which, seeing that he succeeded
in them well enough, brought it about that he completely abandoned his
business of goldsmith and applied himself to sculpture, insomuch that he
did nothing but ply his chisel all day and draw all night; and this he
did with so great zeal, that, feeling his feet very often freezing at
night, he took to keeping them in a basket full of shavings, such as
carpenters strip from planks when they shape them with the plane, in
order to warm them without giving up his drawing. Nor do I marvel in any
way at this, seeing that no one ever became excellent in any exercise
whatsoever without beginning from his childhood to endure heat, cold,
hunger, thirst, and other discomforts; wherefore those men are entirely
deceived who think to be able, at their ease and with all the comforts
of the world, to attain to honourable rank. It is not by sleeping but by
waking and studying continually that progress is made.

Luca was barely fifteen years of age when he was summoned, together with
other young sculptors, to Rimini, in order to make some figures and
other ornaments in marble for Sigismondo di