Michelozzo studied sculpture and design, in his youth, under Donatello;[1] and although he experienced some difficulty, he nevertheless pursued his labours to improve himself so steadily, whether in clay, in wax, or in marble, that, in the works which he afterwards produced, he constantly displayed much talent, and even genius. In one respect, however, Michelozzo surpassed many, and on the point in question may be said to have surpassed himself also. We here allude to the fact, that after the death of Brunellesco, Michelozzo was considered the most consistently regular architect of his time, and the one who most suitably and correctly arranged and distributed the different kinds of dwellings, whether palaces, monasteries, or houses, as will be declared in its proper place. Donatello availed himself for many years of Michelozzo’s aid; the latter having acquired great practice in works of marble, as well as in the casting of bronze. Of this we have proof in the sepulchral monument erected, as we have said, in the church of San Giovanni, at Florence, by Donatello, for the Pope Giovanni Coscia, since the greater part of it was executed by him. In the same place there is still to be seen a marble statue of Faith, by Michelozzo; it is two braccia and a half high,[2] and is very beautiful. This figure was made at the same time with one of Hope, of the same size, and another of Charity, both executed by Donatello, but the work of Michelozzo does not lose by comparison with them.[3] Over the sacristy and the rooms of the superintendents, which are opposite to San Giovanni, Michelozzo executed a San Giovannino, in full relief, [4] which is finished with
- ↑ Before commencing his labours with Donato, Michelozzo had previously studied with Ghiberti, this fact, hitherto unknown, is important, as accounting in part for the progress in art of Michelozzo, and we learn it from a fiscal report, in which he alludes to the part he had taken in the statue of San Matteo, when he was the companion of Lorenzo di Bartoluccio. — See Gaye, Carteggio Inedito, etc., i. 117-120. Ed. Flor. 1846-9.
- ↑ The height of these figures is not quite two braccia.—Masselli.
- ↑ For the Florentine Baptistery Michelozzo also made the silver statue of San Giovanni, attributed byVasari to Antonio del Pollaiuolo. See Gori, Monumenta Basilicae Baptisterii Florentini. See also Rumohr, ut supra, for documents relating to other works of this master in the same building.
- ↑ Now in the often-mentioned corridor of modern bronzes in the
offices of the state; and Lorenzo, the son of Niccolo, was chosen one of the Priors in 1522.—(See Rumohr ut supra, ii, 241).
