Of the Spaniards, the finest nobility
in the whole world, you will find some who applaud and praise and like
painting to a certain extent, but on pressing them further, they have no
mind to order even a small work, nor to pay for it; and, what I consider
baser still they are astonished when they are told that there are persons
in Italy who give good prices for paintings; indeed, in my judgment they
do not act in this like such noble people as they say they are, even
though it were for nothing else but not to undervalue that which they have
no experience of and cannot do; it recoils on their own head, however,
they demean themselves and disgrace the nobility of which they boast; and
not indeed that virtue, which will always be esteemed so long as there are
men here in Italy and in this city. And for this reason a painter ought
not to desire to be away from this land in which we are; and you, M.
Francisco d'Ollanda, if you hope to be appreciated through the art of
painting in Spain or in Portugal, I tell you at once that you are living
in a vain and false hope, and that in my judgment you ought rather to live
in France or in Italy, where talent is recognised and great painting is
much esteemed, because you will find here private persons and gentlemen,
even those who at present do not take much pleasure in painting, as for
instance Andrea Doria, who nevertheless had his palace painted
magnificently, and magnificently paid Master Perino his painter; and like
Cardinal Fernes, who does not know what painting is, but who made a very
nice allowance to the said Master Perino, merely to call him his painter,
giving him twenty 'cruzados' per month and rations for him and for a horse
and servant, besides paying him very well for his works.
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