In 1484, Francesco di Giorgio, passing through Gubbio, was visited by Luca Signorelli, who induced him to design the church of S. Maria del Calcinaio near Cor tona, 1 and in 1491 he competed with the best of his countrymen by sending to Florence a model for the front of S. Maria del Fiore. 2 Francesco’s fame as an architect thus reposes on a firm and reasonable basis; yet.he did not habitually superintend the erection of edifices; and the historians of Italy causelessly heap honours or shame on his head as they attribute to his inventive genius buldings carried out by others, on principles that are at times correct, at others false and vicious. 3 The extent of Francesco di Giorgio’s ability in carving may be correctly defined by reference to the bronze angels in the Sienna Duomo, which he cast and chiselled in 1497. 4 They are hard, dry, and inelegant, of paltry type and form, and draped in vestments of broken folds. 5 When Francesco parted from Nerroccio di Bartolom meo de’ Landi in 1475, Vecchietta and Sano di Pietro were chosen to settle their differences by arbitration, and whilst Francesco almost entirely abandoned sculpture and painting, Nerroccio continued the exclu sive exercise of those two branches of his profession. Nerroccio was younger by about eight years than his 1 See antea in Signorelli. 2 See the record of this compe tition in com. to Vas. VII. 243. 3 See on this point Vasari IV. 204. with notes of the commenta tors. Rumolir, Forschungen. II. 177 and foil., and Doc. Sen. 4 Doc. Sen. II. 466, 463—4. They were ordered in 1489. 5 The following pictures, in ad dition to those already noticed, may be registered. Sienna—PalazzoPubblico. Room leading to the hall painted by Spinello. A sermon and miracle of S. Bernardino — genuine, very careful, and a pleasing work of Francesco di Giorgio. Munich — Pinakothek. Cab inets. No. 538. Assigned to Masac cio (see antea), hut by Francesco di Giorgio. Subject: a miracle of S. Anthony of Padua (wood). Liverpool Gallery. No. 20. assigned to Pesellino (see antea), is also by Francesco di Giorgio. Subject: Sermon of S. Bernardino. — Cologne— Ramboux. The following are assigned to F. d. G. Nos. 172—3. Mr. Fuller Maitland. No. 43 at Manchester under the name of Fra Filippo. Predella: SS. Peter and John healing the lame man (wood). This piece has the impress of the Siennese school, and is by Francesco di Giorgio.
