GHERARDO STARNINA, PAINTER, OF FLORENCE.
[born 1354—died 1408.]
It is an established truth, that he who wanders far from his country, dwelling for a certain time in a land of strangers, frequently experiences a beneficial change in his character and disposition; for, being subjected to the influence of different habits, and observing various customs, the man who is even perverse of nature learns to become tractable, gentle, and patient, much more readily than he would have done had he remained in his own country. Nay, it is certain that he who desires to mould and refine men for the life of the world, need seek no more effectual fire, and no better test than this, wherein such as are rude of nature become mild and are softened, while the gentle become still more delicately refined. The Florentine painter, Gherardo di Jacopo Starnina, was of good race, and not of bad disposition, but his manners were exceedingly harsh and rude, a circumstance which injured himself more than others, but from which he would nevertheless have suffered very serious consequences, had he not timely betaken himself to Spain, where he remained for a long period. Here, he learned to be gentle and courteous, his character becoming so greatly ameliorated in those countries that he seemed to have changed his nature, insomuch that when he returned to Florence, he was received with the utmost kindness by many who hated him to the death before his departure, but who continued to estimate him highly ever after his return, to such extent had he rendered himself agreeable and courteous.
Gherardo was born in Florence, in the year 1354, and, giving proof as he grew up of a natural inclination for the art of painting, he was placed with Antonio of Venice, that he might learn the principles of design. In the course of years Gherardo not only acquired the practice of drawing and painting, but having given a specimen of his ability in certain works, executed in a very good manner, he left Antonio, and began to labour in his vocation on his own account. The paintings in the chapel of the Castellani, in the church of Santa Croce, were executed at the cost of Michele di Vanni, an honourable citizen of that family; and here Gherardo
