Richard Duppa 
Life and Literary Works of Michel Angelo Buonarroti [PDF ebook] 

Whilst the greatest effort has been made to ensure the quality of this text, due to the historical nature of this content, in some rare cases there may be minor issues with legibility. By the Cardinal he was introduced into the Medici family, where he was noticed by Alessandro and Ippolito. In the year 1527, when they were driven from Florence, he returned to his native city; but an epidemic disease pre vailing in Arezzo, he spent his time in the surrounding country, improving himself by painting subjects of devotion for the farmers. His father unfortunately died of the con tagion, and left a young family unprovided for. Vasari, to contribute more effectually to their support, quitted the uncertain profession of a painter, and applied himself to learn the more lucrative trade of a goldsmith. In the year 1529, the civil war, which then existed in Florence, obliged the goldsmiths’ company to remove to Pisa; and there, re ceiving commissions to paint some pictures both in oil and in fresco, he was induced to resume his former profession, and afterward through life met with encouragement, that left him neither motive nor desire to change. Ottaviano de’ Medici was his great friend, ‘ and always treated him as his own son: by the Dukes of Florence, and other distinguished persons, he also enjoyed the most liberal patronage, and was constantly employed in works both pro fitable and honourable to himself.