the agency of the Magnificent
Lorenzo de' Medici, Domenico undertook to adorn the facade of the Duomo
with mosaics, Lorenzo acting as surety for him in this work to the
extent of 20,000 ducats. And he began the work with much confidence and
a better manner, but, being overtaken by death, he left it unfinished;
even as, by reason of the death of the aforesaid Magnificent Lorenzo,
there remained unfinished at Florence the Chapel of S. Zanobi, on which
Domenico had begun to work in mosaic in company with the illuminator
Gherardo. By the hand of Domenico is a very beautiful Annunciation in
mosaic that is to be seen over that side-door of S. Maria del Fiore
which leads to the Servi; and nothing better than this has yet been seen
among the works of our modern masters of mosaic. Domenico used to say
that painting was mere drawing, and that the true painting for eternity
was mosaic.

A pupil of his, who lived with him in order to learn, was Bastiano
Mainardi da San Gimignano, who became a very able master of his manner
in fresco; wherefore he went with Domenico to San Gimignano, where they
painted in company the Chapel of S. Fina, which is a beautiful work. Now
the faithful and willing service of Bastiano, who acquitted himself very
well, induced Domenico to judge him worthy to have a sister of his own
for wife; and so their friendship was changed into relationship--a proof
of liberality worthy of a loving master, who was pleased to reward the
proficiency that his disciple had acquired by labouring at his art.
Domenico caused the said Bastiano to paint a Madonna ascending into
Heaven in the Chapel of the Baroncelli and Bandini in S. Croce (although
he made the cartoon himself), with S. Thomas below receiving the
Girdle--a beautiful work in fresco. In Siena, in an apartment of the
Palace of the Spannocchi, Domenico and Bastiano together painted many
scenes in distemper, with little figures; and in Pisa, in addition to
the aforesaid recess in the Duomo, they filled the whole arch of that
chapel with angels, besides painting the folding doors that close the
organ, and beginning to overlay the ceiling with gold. Afterwards, just
when Domenico was about to put his hand to some very great works both in
Pisa and in Siena, he fell sick of a most grievous putrid fever,
which cut short his life in five days. As he lay ill, the Tornabuoni
sent him a hundred ducats of gold as a gift, proving their regard and
particular friendship for Domen