[Footnote: _Life of
Andrea, del Sarto_, vol. in. p. 212.] As Andrea painted no less than
five pictures of this subject, of which Argenville mentions that there
were two in France, one of which was sold to the Grand Duke of Tuscany,
it is probable that the Pitti one is not that painted for Francis I.
CHAPTER VI.
ANDREA AND OTTAVIANO DE' MEDICI.
A.D. 1521-1523.
The Medici, always patrons of art, did not neglect to enrich their
palaces with the works of Andrea del Sarto. Ottaviano de' Medici, a
cousin of the reigning branch, was an especial friend of his, from the
time that Andrea began the fresco of _Caesar receiving tribute of
animals_ in the Hall of Poggio a Cajano. The commission came really
from Pope Leo X., who deputed Cardinal Giulio, his cousin, to have the
hall of the favourite family villa adorned with frescoes. He in turn
handed over the direction to Ottaviano, who was a great amateur of art.
It was designed that Andrea del Sarto should cover a third of the Hall,
the other two-thirds being given to Pontormo and Francia Bigio. The
payment of thirty scudi a month was arranged.
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