ts, among whom he portrayed Alessandro and two sons of his.

Fra Filippo was much the friend of gay spirits, and he ever lived a
joyous life. He taught the art of painting to Fra Diamante, who executed
many pictures in the Carmine at Prato; and he did himself great credit
by the close imitation of his master's manner, for he attained to the
greatest perfection. Sandro Botticelli, Pesello, and Jacopo del Sellaio
of Florence worked with Fra Filippo in their youth (the last-named
painted two panels in S. Friano, and one wrought in distemper in the
Carmine), with a great number of other masters, to whom he ever taught
the art with great friendliness. He lived honourably by his labours,
spending extraordinary sums on the pleasures of love, in which he
continued to take delight right up to the end of his life. He was
requested by the Commune of Spoleto, through the mediation of Cosimo de'
Medici, to paint the chapel in their principal church (dedicated to Our
Lady), which he brought very nearly to completion, working in company
with Fra Diamante, when death intervened to prevent him from
finishing it. Some say, indeed, that in consequence of his great
inclination for his blissful amours some relations of the lady that he
loved had him poisoned.

[Illustration: MADONNA AND CHILD

(_After the panel (tondo) by =Fra Filippo Lippi=. Florence: Pitti, 343_)

_Anderson_]

Fra Filippo finished the course of his life in 1438, at the age of
fifty-seven, and left a will entrusting to Fra Diamante his son Filippo,
a little boy of ten years of age, who learnt the art of painting from
his guardian. Fra Diamante returned with him to Florence, carrying away
three hundred ducats, which remained to be received from the Commune of
Spoleto for the work done; with these he bought some property for
himself, giving but a little share to the boy. Filippo was placed with
Sandro Botticelli, who was then held a very good master; and the old man
was buried in a tomb of red and white marble, which the people of
Spoleto caused to be erected in the church that he had been painting.

His death grieved many friends, particularly Cosimo de' Medici, as well
as Pope Eugenius, who offered in his life-time to give him a
dispensation, so that he might make Lucrezia, the daughter of Francesco
Buti, his legitimate wife; but this he refused to do, wishing to have
complete liberty for himself and his appetites.

While Sixtus IV was alive, Lorenzo de' Medici beca