his
disciple, and of those that he executed when he was so much the
friend of Andrea del Sarto, that nothing was more dear to him than
to see that master in his workshop, in order to learn from him,
showing him his works and asking his opinion of them, so as to avoid
such errors and defects as those men often fall into who do not show
their work to any other craftsman, but trust so much in their own
judgment that they would rather incur the censure of all the world
when those works are finished, than correct them by means of the
suggestions of loving friends.

One of the first things that Domenico executed was a very beautiful
picture of Our Lady for Messer Agnolo della Stufa, who has it in his
Abbey of Capalona in the district of Arezzo, and holds it very dear
for the great diligence of its execution and the beauty of its
colouring. He painted another picture of Our Lady, no less beautiful
than that one, for Messer Agnolo Niccolini, now Archbishop of Pisa
and a Cardinal, who keeps it in his house on the Canto de' Pazzi in
Florence; and likewise another, of equal size and excellence, which
is now in the possession of Filippo dell' Antella, at Florence. In
another, which is about three braccia in height, Domenico made a
full-length Madonna with the Child between her knees, a little S.
John, and another head; and this picture, which is held to be one of
the best works that he executed, since there is no sweeter colouring
to be seen, is at the present day in the possession of Messer
Filippo Spini, Treasurer to the most Illustrious Prince of Florence,
and a gentleman of magnificent spirit, who takes much delight in
works of painting.

Among other portraits that Domenico made from the life, which are
all beautiful and also good likenesses, the most beautiful is the
one which he painted of Monsignore Messer Piero Carnesecchi, at that
time a marvellously handsome youth, for whom he also made some other
pictures, all very beautiful and executed with much diligence. In
like manner, he portrayed in a picture the Florentine Barbara, a
famous and most lovely courtesan of that day, much beloved by many
no less for her fine culture than for her beauty, and particularly
because she was an excellent musician and sang divinely. But the
best work that Domenico ever executed was a large picture wherein he
made a life-size Madonna, with some angels and little boys, and a S.
Bernard who is writing; which picture is now in the hands of