, that there was no one in his time who
equalled him in this branch of his profession. He worked up to the age
of thirty under the discipline of Andrea, learning from him, and became
a very good master. Wherefore, having given good proof of his knowledge,
he was commissioned by the Signoria of Florence to paint a panel in
distemper of the Magi bringing offerings to Christ, which was placed
half-way up the staircase of their Palace, and acquired great fame for
Pesello, above all because he had made certain portraits therein,
including that of Donato Acciaiuoli. In S. Croce, also, in the Chapel of
the Cavalcanti, below the Annunciation of Donato, he painted a predella
with little figures, containing stories of S. Nicholas. In the house of
the Medici he adorned some panelling very beautifully with animals, and
certain coffers with little scenes of jousts on horseback. And in the
same house there are seen to this day certain canvases by his hand,
representing lions pressing against a grating, which appear absolutely
alive; and he made others on the outside, together with one fighting
with a serpent; and on another canvas he painted an ox, a fox, and other
animals, very animated and vivacious. In the Chapel of the Alessandri,
in S. Piero Maggiore, he made four little scenes with little figures of
S. Peter, of S. Paul, of S. Zanobi restoring to life the son of the
widow, and of S. Benedict. In S. Maria Maggiore in the same city of
Florence, in the Chapel of the Orlandini, he made a Madonna and two
other very beautiful figures. For the children of the Company of S.
Giorgio he painted a Crucifix, S. Jerome, and S. Francis; and he made an
Annunciation on a panel in the Church of S. Giorgio. In the Church of S.
Jacopo at Pistoia he painted a Trinity, S. Zeno, and S. James; and
throughout the houses of citizens in Florence there are many pictures,
both round and square, by the hand of the same man.

Pesello was a temperate and gentle person; and whenever it was in his
power to assist his friends, he would do it very lovingly and willingly.
He married young, and had a son named Francesco, known as Pesellino, who
became a painter, following very closely in the steps of Fra Filippo.
From what is known of this man, it is clear that if he had lived longer
he would have done much more than he did, for he was a zealous student
of his art, and would draw all day and night without ceasing. In the
Chapel of the Noviciate in S. Croce, below t