And he will be able to
paint in fresco in the manner of old Italy, with all the mixtures and
varieties of colour usually employed in it. He will be able to paint in
oils very suavely with more knowledge, daring and patience than painters.
And, finally, on a small piece of parchment he will be most perfect and
great, as in all other manners of painting. Because great, very great is
the power of design and drawing. Senhor Francisco d'Ollanda can paint, if
he wishes, everything that he knows how to draw."
"I will not ask again about another doubt," said M. Lactancio, "because I
dare not."
"Please to dare, Your Excellency," said Michael Angelo, "for as we have
already sacrificed the day to painting, let us likewise offer up the night
which is setting in."
He then said: "I wish finally to know what this painting that is so fine
and rare must possess or what it is? Whether there must be tourneys
painted, or battles, or kings and emperors covered with brocade, or
well-dressed damsels, or landscapes and fields and towns? Or whether
perchance it must be some angel or some saint painted and the actual form
of this world? Or what must it be? Whether it must be done with gold or
with silver, whether with very fine tints or with very brilliant ones?"
"Painting," M. Angelo began, "is not such a great work as any of those
which you have mentioned, sir, only the painting which I so much vaunt and
praise will be the imitation of some single thing amongst those which
immortal God made with great care and knowledge and which He invented and
painted, like to a Master: and so downwards, whether animals or birds,
dispensing perfection according as each thing merits it.
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