Baccio da
Montelupo made another, also of marble, which stands permanently over
the Tabernacle of the Sacrament. In S. Maria Novella he made a marble
tomb for the Blessed Villana, with certain graceful little angels, and
portrayed her there from nature in such a manner that she appears not
dead but asleep; and for the Nuns of the Murate he wrought a little
Madonna with a lovely and graceful manner, in a tabernacle standing on a
column; insomuch that both these works are very highly esteemed and very
greatly prized. In S. Pietro Maggiore, also, he made the Tabernacle of
the Sacrament in marble with his usual diligence; and although there are
no figures in this work, yet it shows a beautiful manner and infinite
grace, like his other works. And he portrayed from the life, likewise in
marble, the head of Marietta degli Strozzi, who was so beautiful that
the work turned out very excellent.
In S. Croce he made a tomb for Messer Carlo Marsuppini of Arezzo, which
not only amazed the craftsmen and the people of understanding who saw it
at that time, but still fills with marvel all who see it at the present
day; for on the sarcophagus he wrought some foliage, which, although
somewhat stiff and dry, was held--since but few antiquities had been
discovered up to that time--to be something very beautiful. Among other
parts of the said work are seen certain wings, acting as ornaments for a
shell at the foot of the sarcophagus, which seem to be made not of
marble but of feathers--difficult things to imitate in marble, seeing
that the chisel is not able to counterfeit hair and feathers. There is a
large shell of marble, more real than if it were an actual shell. There
are also some children and some angels, executed with a beautiful and
lively manner; and consummate excellence and art are likewise seen in
the figure of the dead, portrayed from nature on the sarcophagus, and in
a Madonna in low-relief on a medallion, wrought after the manner of
Donato with judgment and most admirable grace; as are many other
works that he made in low-relief on marble, some of which are in the
guardaroba of the Lord Duke Cosimo, and in particular a medallion with
the head of Our Lord Jesus Christ and with that of John the Baptist as a
boy. At the foot of the tomb of the said Messer Carlo he laid a large
stone in memory of Messer Giorgio, a famous Doctor, and Secretary to the
Signoria of Florence, with a very beautiful portrait in low-relief of
Messer Gio
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