culpture and painting, to tell the truth,
he had a manner somewhat hard and crude, as one who acquired it rather
by infinite study than by the facility of a natural gift. Even if he had
been as poor in this facility as he was rich in the study and diligence
that exalted him, he would have been most excellent in those arts,
which, for their highest perfection, require a union of study and
natural power. If either of these is wanting, a man rarely attains to
the first rank; but study will do a great deal, and thus Andrea, who had
it in greater abundance than any other craftsman whatsoever, is counted
among the rare and excellent masters of our arts.

In his youth he applied himself to the sciences, particularly to
geometry. Among many other things that he made while working at the
goldsmith's art were certain buttons for copes, which are in S. Maria
del Fiore at Florence; and he also made larger works, particularly a
cup, full of animals, foliage, and other bizarre fancies, which is known
to all goldsmiths, and casts are taken of it; and likewise another, on
which there is a very beautiful dance of little children. Having given a
proof of his powers in these two works, he was commissioned by the Guild
of Merchants to make two scenes in silver for the ends of the altar of
S. Giovanni, from which, when put into execution, he acquired very great
praise and fame.

There were wanting at this time in Rome some of those large figures of
the Apostles which generally stood on the altar of the Chapel of the
Pope, as well as certain other works in silver that had been destroyed;
wherefore Pope Sixtus sent for Andrea and with great favour commissioned
him to do all that was necessary in this matter, and he brought the
whole to perfection with much diligence and judgment. Meanwhile,
perceiving that the many antique statues and other things that were
being found in Rome were held in very great esteem, insomuch that the
famous bronze horse was set up by the Pope at S. Giovanni Laterano, and
that even the fragments--not to speak of complete works--which were
being discovered every day, were prized, Andrea determined to devote
himself to sculpture. And so, completely abandoning the goldsmith's art,
he set himself to cast some little figures in bronze, which were greatly
extolled. Thereupon, growing in courage, he began to work in marble. Now
in those days the wife of Francesco Tornabuoni had died in childbirth,
and her husband, who had l