With all of my new found wealth from my budding trade business in the
Ottoman Empire, I have patronized an artist. An establish sculptor named
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, who most just call Donatello.
He is a truly gifted sculptor, with statues so life like you would swear that
they blink. I have asked him to build a grand monument to my deceased father,
who started the family on the road to success, brandishing a sword over his head
and standing proud for all to see. My father will never know death, and the city
of Florence will know how grand our family truly is! The statue is being handled
by the most competent sculptor in all of Italy. I have seen some of his earlier
monuments and was quite impressed, the statue of St. George looks as if he will
step down off the pedestal at any minute. I want the people of Florence too look
upon my family with wonder, fear, and respect. This statue will make all of
these things come true, with Donatello as my tool we can make a monument to last
for all time! I must speak with him shortly to see how it is going, I must tell
Donatello that money is no object; I want this to look as grand and impressive
as possible I will let nothing stand in the way, for how can you put a price on
the awe held over the populace? I have already purchased a spot to place it near
our palazzo on the Arno. With any luck the testimony to one of the most powerful
merchants in Florence and Venice will soon be at hand. My buildings and
renovations are already bringing in the social power that comes from excessive
patronage; however it will be nothing in comparison to what my social status
will do when all of the citizens gaze upon my family’s ancestral glory. It will
also make those who mean to cross us think twice, for how would they cause
trouble to a beloved and feared merchant family without my network of subjects
coming to my aid. The murderous scum who killed my father will be forever
looking over his shoulder with this statue standing in Florence. Donatello has
already given the name for this statue, the ‘Angelus Custos’ or the ‘Guardian
Angel’ oh, how I wish my father is looking down upon my growing success with
pride, now in some way I will know he is. However I must guard myself for delays
and setbacks, Donatello said that he was out of marble blocks the size I
required, I have been working on getting him one but I cannot find a single
artist who has one not already reserved. I refuse to let my father look like
some sort of medieval tapestry, devoid of all life and vibrancy that once filled
him, I must find a suitable chunk of marble! For too long my family has been
forced to endure the criminally uninspired works brought before us by artist
still clinging to the classical styles. No more, I will not let the first
suitable artist skilled in the ancient ways slip through my fingers over
disputes for a chunk of rock. I will have my statue, even if it means buying
every other patrons carved work and having Donatello reshape it into my father,
my Angelus Custos. Progress has benn slow to say the least, but I am confident
Donatello will find a way to use his knowledge from the ancient world to
suppress the other patrons’ works and make mine the most beautiful for years to
come.
Ottoman Empire, I have patronized an artist. An establish sculptor named
Donato di Niccolò di Betto Bardi, who most just call Donatello.
He is a truly gifted sculptor, with statues so life like you would swear that
they blink. I have asked him to build a grand monument to my deceased father,
who started the family on the road to success, brandishing a sword over his head
and standing proud for all to see. My father will never know death, and the city
of Florence will know how grand our family truly is! The statue is being handled
by the most competent sculptor in all of Italy. I have seen some of his earlier
monuments and was quite impressed, the statue of St. George looks as if he will
step down off the pedestal at any minute. I want the people of Florence too look
upon my family with wonder, fear, and respect. This statue will make all of
these things come true, with Donatello as my tool we can make a monument to last
for all time! I must speak with him shortly to see how it is going, I must tell
Donatello that money is no object; I want this to look as grand and impressive
as possible I will let nothing stand in the way, for how can you put a price on
the awe held over the populace? I have already purchased a spot to place it near
our palazzo on the Arno. With any luck the testimony to one of the most powerful
merchants in Florence and Venice will soon be at hand. My buildings and
renovations are already bringing in the social power that comes from excessive
patronage; however it will be nothing in comparison to what my social status
will do when all of the citizens gaze upon my family’s ancestral glory. It will
also make those who mean to cross us think twice, for how would they cause
trouble to a beloved and feared merchant family without my network of subjects
coming to my aid. The murderous scum who killed my father will be forever
looking over his shoulder with this statue standing in Florence. Donatello has
already given the name for this statue, the ‘Angelus Custos’ or the ‘Guardian
Angel’ oh, how I wish my father is looking down upon my growing success with
pride, now in some way I will know he is. However I must guard myself for delays
and setbacks, Donatello said that he was out of marble blocks the size I
required, I have been working on getting him one but I cannot find a single
artist who has one not already reserved. I refuse to let my father look like
some sort of medieval tapestry, devoid of all life and vibrancy that once filled
him, I must find a suitable chunk of marble! For too long my family has been
forced to endure the criminally uninspired works brought before us by artist
still clinging to the classical styles. No more, I will not let the first
suitable artist skilled in the ancient ways slip through my fingers over
disputes for a chunk of rock. I will have my statue, even if it means buying
every other patrons carved work and having Donatello reshape it into my father,
my Angelus Custos. Progress has benn slow to say the least, but I am confident
Donatello will find a way to use his knowledge from the ancient world to
suppress the other patrons’ works and make mine the most beautiful for years to
come.
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