I. Masaccio,
BORN in Tuscany: Was the first that gave a sort of action to his Figures, inspiring a certain Aire of life never before seen in Paint∣ing, taking thence all that stiffness which made them formerly look as if they represented life∣less Statues, rather then living substances. He had also a peculi∣ar excellency in Drapery, retrenching all that confusion which used to render it cumbersome and useless. He Painted many fine things both at Florence and at Rome, of all which the most remarkable was a Piece of St. Peters baptizing several Persons in a River naked, amonst which there is one which appears so prettily and so naturally, as it were, to quiver with cold, that one would think he saw plainly the shaking of the members and the shivering of the skin: And indeed such a marvelous elegance and dexterity attended all he did, that his Example served as a sput to the Industry of Michael Angelo, and Raphael Ʋrbin, and kindled that glorious heat in them, that gave life to their incomparable Workes. But that which was most to be admired was that he performed so many famous things in the compass of a very short life, dying before he was well 26 years of age. This flower being unhappily nipt in the bud and base∣ly poisoned by a malitious Villain.