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

APPENDIX II, A 305
aminuire qualche cosa de alchuno delli dessigni gli de esser aminuito il pretio, et sia
viceversaaccresciuto, accrescendoli Vostra Excellentia veruna cosa. Me reccomando.etc,
Mediolani, die 27 Junii, 1474. B. DE Cremona.
Arch, di St. Mil., Ingegn., etc., B. Gadio.
Magenta, II, No. 379, p. 368.
Chap. IV, pp. 99-101.
My Illustrious Lord,
On the day of St. John Baptist I received a letter from your Highness relating
to the painting of the ceiling of that Chapel, in which, among other things, it was
stated that certain painters had been to see your Lordship, and that some had offered
to do the work for 200 ducats, some for 150, and others for 100. As in that letter your
Excellency commanded me to summon all these painters, so that the commission might
be given to those who would make the best terms, I sent for them and others as well ;
among them were the Masters Giov. Pietro da Corte, Melchiorre da Lampugnano,
Stephano de' Fideli, Gottardo de' Scotti, and Pietro de' Marchesi, on the one part, who
offered to do the painting for 175 ducats ; on the other part were the Masters Bonifatio
da Cremona, Zanetto de' Bugati, and Vincentio de' Foppa, who declared they would do
the painting for 160 ducats ; finally the above-named Giov. Pietro and his companions
offered to do the painting for 150 ducats, according to one of the designs which I am
sending by one of the painters, so that your Excellency may see which he prefers,
namely, with or without Cherubim with a representation of the Eternal Father in a
robe of ultramarine blue with rays and a glory of fine gold in relief, the ceiling to be
painted in azure, as fine and good in quality as in the design, with stars in fine gold in
relief, and also with twelve angels in each section of the Chapel, except in the part near
the window, where there would only be room for six, though the painters would introduce
more if possible. For the price of 150 ducats they will also paint a border half a
cubit in width of the same colour as the woodwork of the ancona reaching to the top of
the roof, which is to be painted like the ancona ;
and they are to remove . . . the old
plaster of the ceiling and renew it at their own expense with fresh plaster ; . . . they
are also to supply the beams, woodwork, iron clamps, and other requisites for making
the scaffolding, all which is to be included in the 150 ducats; and having found no
other painters willing to make better terms, I have given them the order, subject to the
approval of your Highness.
Wherefore, should my choice be approved, I would beg your Highness to inform
me which of the two designs is preferred, so that I may attend to its being carried out,
returning me the design chosen that I may keep it in order to see, when the work is
finished, whether the azure is as good and fine in quality as was promised.
Those masters who, according to your Excellency, offered to paint the ceiling for
100 ducats, are not forthcoming ; they all say there was never any question of such a
sum, but those who are to do the work undertake to execute it to perfection with good
colours, and so that everything will be satisfactory : and if your Highness should wish
either of the designs to be made simpler, the price would also be reduced, or vice versa,
adding anything would also increase the price.
I commend myself, etc.,
Milan, June 27, 1474. B. DE Cremona.
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