Chap. XVII. ANDREA DEL SARTO. 551 models were those from which Del Sarto made drawings for his pictures. 1 Rustici was a sculptor too, but older; a man of inde pendent means, whose house was the rallying point for artists in general, and the seat of a club of twelve or dodeka, to which Andrea del Sarto belonged. This club, which was called the “Company of the Kettle”, was chiefly remarkable for the jollity of its dinners to which every member was allowed to invite four strangers. At these convivial gatherings each brought his own food, and was fined if his dish happened to be that of his neighbour. But on grand occasions concert being re quired, previous consultation took place; and ingenuity was exhausted in making temples of pastry and sausages, and figures carved out of cold beef or sucking pigs. Yet, eating and drinking was not the exclusive business of the association; and we are told that in 1519, when Fran - cia Bigio became chairman or “archipaiuolo”, he recited a comic epic called the “ Battle of the Mice with the Frogs”, which has been assigned by some to Andrea del Sarto, whilst others believe the author to have been Ot- taviano de’ Medici. 2 As it often happens when such clubs consist not merely of boon companions, but of persons known for talent in their business, the more exclusive circles are moved by curios ity to visit them; a connecting link is created between persons whose relative rank would otherwise keep them for ever apart; and a curious mixture is produced in which the worker has a chance of learning to ape the polish of the high-bred noble, and vice versa the man of station condescends to a dangerous familiarity with those whom he has not ceased to regard as his inferiors. After the successful establishment of the Kettle-club, that of the “Trowel” arose in 1512. 3 The associates were ranged in 1 Vas. XIII. 71. 2 Vas. XII. 9. and Reumont's A. del Sarto, sm. 8°. Leipzig 1834. Intr. p. XVII. The poem was published by theAbbateFontani inl788, and is in Biadi’slife of DelSarto. Flor. 1829. 3 For these and the subsequent facts, see Vas. XII. 11. and follg.