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The Marchioness, knowing my mind, called one of her servants, and said, smiling: "To those who know how to express thanks one must study how to give, especially as I get as much in the giving as Francisco d’Ollanda does in receiving.
Having commanded me to sit down, the lecture and its praises over, the Marchioness looking at me and at M. Lactancio, if I remember rightly, said: "Francisco d’Ollanda will be better pleased to hear M. Angelo talk about painting, than Brother Ambrosio expound this lesson." Then I, almost angry, answered her: Why, madam, does it appear to your Excellency that I can attend to nothing but painting?
But I would have you to know, M. Francisco d’Ollanda, that whoever does not understand and esteem the most noble art of painting does so because of his own defects and not because of the art, which is very noble and clear; and because he is a barbarian and without judgment, and has no honourable part in being a man.
And for this reason a painter ought not to desire to be away from this land in which we are; and you, M. Francisco d’Ollanda, if you hope to be appreciated through the art of painting in Spain or in Portugal, I tell you at once that you are living in a vain and false hope, and that in my judgment you ought rather to live in France or in Italy, where talent is recognised and great painting is much esteemed, because you will find here private persons and gentlemen, even those who at present do not take much pleasure in painting, as for instance Andrea Doria, who nevertheless had his palace painted magnificently, and magnificently paid Master Perino his painter; and like Cardinal Fernes, who does not know what painting is, but who made a very nice allowance to the said Master Perino, merely to call him his painter, giving him twenty ’cruzados’ per month and rations for him and for a horse and servant, besides paying him very well for his works.
Order a great master, who is not an Italian, even though it be Alberto, a man delicate in his manner, in order to deceive me, or Francisco d’Ollanda there, to counterfeit a work which shall be like an Italian work, and if it cannot be a very good one let it be an ordinary or a bad painting, and I assure you that it will be immediately recognised that the work was not done in Italy, nor by the hand of an Italian.
Foao, go to the house of M. Angelo and tell him that I and M. Lactancio are here in this quiet chapel, and that the church is closed and very pleasant, if he cares to come and lose a little of the day with us, so that we may gain it with him. And do not tell him that Francisco d’Ollanda, the Spaniard, is here."
"And I wish to tell you, Francisco d’Ollanda, of an exceedingly great beauty in this science of ours, of which perhaps you are aware, and which I think you consider the highest, namely, that what one has most to work and struggle for in painting is to do the work with a great amount of labour and study in such a way that it may afterwards appear, however much it was laboured, to have been done almost quickly and almost without any labour, and very easily, although it was not.
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."
"I think," said M. Lactancio, "that I heard a while ago Francisco d’Ollanda name amongst paintings the tomb that you, Senhor Michael, sculptured in marble; but I do not understand how sculpture can be called painting."
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