to make one thyself.’  Filippo, without saying anything more, returned home, and set to work on a crucifix, wherein he labored to surpass Donato, that he might not be condemned by his own judgment; but he suffered no one to know what he was doing.  At the end of some months, the work was completed to the height of perfection, and this done, Filippo one morning invited Donato to dine with him, and the latter accepted the invitation.  Thereupon, as they were proceeding together towards the house of Filippo, they passed by the Mercato Vecchio, where the latter purchased various articles, and giving them to Donato, said, ’Do thou go forward with these things to the house, and wait for me there; I’ll be after thee in a moment.’  Donato, therefore, having entered the house, had no sooner done so than he saw the crucifix, which Filippo had placed in a suitable light.  Stopping short to examine the work, he found it so perfectly executed, that feeling himself conquered, full of astonishment, and, as it were startled out of himself, he dropped the hands which were holding up his apron, wherein he had placed the purchases, when the whole fell to the ground, eggs, cheese, and other things, all broken to pieces and mingled together.  But Donato, not recovering from his astonishment, remained still gazing in amazement and like one out of his wits when Filippo arrived, and inquired, laughing, ’What hast thou been about, Donato? and what dost thou mean us to have for dinner, since thou hast overturned everything?’ ‘I, for my part,’ replied Donato, ’have had my share of dinner for to-day; if thou must needs have thine, take it.  But enough said:  to thee it has been given to represent Christ; to me, boors only.’” This crucifix now adorns the altar of the chapel of the Gondi.

DONATELLO.

This old Florentine sculptor was born in 1383.  He was the first of the moderns who forsook the stiff and gothic manner, and endeavored to restore to sculpture the grace and beauty of the antique.  He executed a multitude of works in wood, marble and bronze, consisting of images, statues, busts, basso-relievos, monuments, equestrian statues, etc. which gained him great reputation, and some of which are much esteemed at the present day.  He was much patronized by Cosmo de’ Medici, and his son Pietro.

Among Donatello’s principal works, are three statues, each three braccia and a half high, (Vasari erroneously says four, and each five braccia high), for the facade of the church of Santa Maria del Fiore, which faces the Campanile.  They represent St. John; David, called Lo Zuccone (so called, because bald-headed); and Solomon, or as some say, the prophet Jeremiah.  The Zuccone is considered the most extraordinary and the most beautiful work ever produced by Donatello, who, while working on it, was so delighted with his success, that he frequently exclaimed, “Speak then! why wilt thou not speak?” Whenever he wished to affirm a thing in a manner that should preclude all doubt, he would say, “By the faith I place in my Zuccone.”