Signior Quotes
I, Titian of Cadore, having studied painting from childhood upwards, and desirous of fame rather than profit, wish to serve the Doge and Signori, rather than his Highness the Pope and other Signori, who in past days, and even now, have urgently asked to employ me: I am therefore anxious, if it should appear feasible, to paint in the Hall of Council, beginning, if it please their sublimity, with the canvas of 'The Battle' on the side towards the Piazza, which is so difficult that no one as yet has had courage to attempt it...
Titian
If the famous Clementi, whom I found here (Italy) in the year 1766, and bought of his father for seven years, is not still a Catholic, the fault is not with me.-I assured the Pope I would not endeavour to convert him. Meeting him one Sunday when we were in the country, I asked him-" Why he did not go to mass" (there was a Catholic chapel about ten miles distant) : he said-" There was no horse."-" No horse! Why don't you take the grey horse?"-"O quello, Signore, scappa via.( O that one, Gentleman, run off. )"-" Take then the black poney."-" E quello casca subito.( And that one falls quickly.)" So what with the horse that fell, and the horse that ran away, I fear Signior Clementi attended mass as seldom as you do a sermon.
Peter Beckford