an in the fear
with which he does a thing the more he understands it. And on the
contrary, the ignorance of others in the foolhardy daring with which they
fill pictures with what they know nothing about. There may be an excellent
master who has never painted more than a single figure, and without
painting anything more deserves more renown and honour than those who have
painted a thousand pictures: he knows better how to do what he has not
done than the others know what they do.

"And not only is this as I tell you, but there is another wonder which
seems greater, namely, that if a capable man merely makes a simple
outline, like a person about to begin something, he will at once be known
by it--if Apelles, as Apelles; if an ignorant painter, as an ignorant
painter. And there is no necessity for more, neither more time, nor more
experience, nor examination, for eyes which understand it and for those
who know that by a single straight line Apelles was distinguished from
Protogenes, immortal Greek painters."

And Michael Angelo having stopped, I proceeded:

"It is also a great thing that a great master, although he may wish and
work hard to do so, cannot so change or injure his hand as to paint
something appearing to have been done by an apprentice, for whoever
carefully examines such a thing, will find in it some sign by which he
will know that it was done by the hand of a skilful person. And on the
contrary, one who knows little, although he may endeavour to do the
smallest thing so that it may appear to have been done by a great man,
will have his trouble in vain, because immediately, when placed beside the
work of a great man, it will be recognised as having been done by a
prentice hand. But I should like now to know something more from Senhor
Michael Angelo, to see whether he agrees with my opinion, and that is that
he should tell me whether it is better to paint a work quickly or slowly?"

And he answered:

"I will tell you: to do anything quickly and swiftly is very profitable
and good, and it is a gift received from the immortal God to do in a few
hours what another is painting during many days; for if it were not so
Pausias of Sicyon would not work so hard in order to paint in one day the
perfection of a child in a picture. If he who paints quickly does not on
that account paint worse than one who paints slowly, he deserves therefore
much greater praise. But should he through the hurry of his hand pass the
li