Vincenzo Foppa of Brescia, founder of the Lombard school, his life ...

296 VINCENZO FOPPA
October 14, 1468. Novara.
Dux Mediolani, etc., Potestati et Presidentibus negotiis civitatis Nostre Papie.
Siamo informati come gia dodeci anni passati maestro Vincenzo da Fopa depinctore
fa continua residentia in quella nostra cita con la dona, figlioli e famegli et suis, et
se ellecto dicta nostra cita per sua abitatione et patria et benche la 111'"* Madonna nostra
madre altre volte gli habia concesso lettere de potergli acquistare, et gia se habia comprato
una casa et se posa considerare citadino per tanta lunga dimora, secondo li
ordini de quella nostra cita, nondimanco ello, ad sua satisfatione, desidera ancora essere
creato et electo per vuy. II perche avendo nuy piena notitia de le virtute de dicto
maestro Vincentio, quale nel mestero suo non ha chi lo antecede, oltra li suoi optimi
costumi et civile vivere, ne pare che, non solamente ve doveressevo contentare de satisfare
ad questa volunta sua, ma fargli ogni commoditate, perche quella nostra cita se lo
acquisti posendo cedere se non ad suo grande ornamento. Et pero volimo et ve commettiamo
che vuy, insieme cum altritanti adiuncti citadini, elegiate et constituate concive
vostro et citadino de quella nostra cita dicto maestro Vincencio, con quela solemnita
se rechiede, liberamente et senza alcuna spesa, che ne sera grata et del tucto per questa
nostra, ex nunc prout (ex tunc), confirmamo et approvamo. Data Novariae, die xiv
octobris, 1468.
Arch, di St. Mil., Miss. Due, No. 82, 1468, f. 98.
Ahnan. Sacr., p. 343.
Chap, ni, p. 74.
The Duke of Milan to the Podesta and Council of our City of Pavia. We have
been informed that for the past twelve years Master Vincenzo da Fopa the painter has
continually resided in this our city with his wife, his sons, his assistants and all his
belongings, and has chosen this our city for his habitation and home. And though
the illustrious Duchess our mother granted him letters to enable him to acquire property,
and he has already bought a house, and may consider himself a citizen, for his
long residence there, according to the ordinances of our city, nevertheless for his own
satisfaction he desires to be elected and created a citizen by you. Therefore we, having
full knowledge of the merits of the said Master Vincenzo, who in his profession is surpassed
by none, and of his virtuous and law-abiding habits, consider that you should
not only accede to his wish in this matter, but should also meet him in every way, so that
you may possess him as a fellow-citizen, which would redound greatly to the honour of
Pavia. We therefore desire and command that you (of the Council of Twelve),
together with the same number of members of the General Council,^ do elect and
institute as your fellow-citizen and citizen of this our City, the said Master
Vincenzo with all the necessary formalities but without any expense, which
thing will be pleasing to us, and we now do ratify and approve it with this
our letter. From Novara, October 14, 1468.
^ The Council of Twelve under the presidency of the Podesti managed the ordinary business
of the Commune, and was designated the Consiglio di Provvisione.
For business of special
importance the Twelve convoked the General Council, whose members were called Cittadini
Aggiunti.