One morning, as Brunelleschi was amusing himself on the Piazza di Santa
Maria del Fiore, in company with Donatello and other artists, the
conversation happened to turn on ancient sculpture. Donatello related
that when he was returning from Rome, he had taken the road of Orvieto,
to see the remarkable façade of the Cathedral of that city--a highly
celebrated work, executed by various masters, and considered in those
days a very remarkable production. He added that as he was passing
through Cortona, he had seen in the capitular church of that city a most
beautiful antique marble vase, adorned with sculpture--a rare thing at
that time, as most of the beautiful works of antiquity have since been
brought to light. As Donatello proceeded to describe the manner in which
the artist had treated this work, the delicacy, beauty, and perfection
of the workmanship, Filippo became inflamed with such an ardent desire
to see it, that he set off immediately, on foot, to Cortona, dressed as
he was in his mantle, hood, and wooden shoes, without communicating his
purpose to any one. Finding that Donatello had not been too lavish of
his praise, he drew the vase, returned to Florence, and surprised his
friends with the accurate drawing he had made, before they knew of his
departure, they believing that he must be occupied with his inventions.
This urn, or funeral vase, according to the Florentine editors of
Vasari, is still in the Cathedral of Cortona. The sculptures represent
the Battle of the Centaurs and Lapithæ, or as some say, a Warlike
Expedition of Bacchus. The design and workmanship are exquisite. It was
found in a field without the city, and almost close to the Cathedral.