We have said much to the credit of many pious, zealous, charitable,
and good personages of the several orders, and will conclude with an
anecdote creditable to Art; and the more willingly, as it brings us
gently down to our own times--for we believe anecdotes of similar
generosity may be told of many living men of the profession.
Annibal Caracci, suffering from illness and disappointment, and tempted
by the promise of two thousand crowns, accepted an order from a certain
Don Diego Herrera, to paint a picture in honour of a saint, in a
church. He was, however, so ill that he could not perform the task. His
pupil Albano nursed him, comforted him, cheered him; and between his
attendances on his sick master, ran backward and forward to the church,
and painted the frescoes with the greatest care--as they were to pass
for the work of the master. Annibal every now and then rose from his
bed and retouched and in part finished the painting. Don Diego refused
the payment, as the work was not all by Annibal's hand. But the work
being greatly admired, he consented to pay the two thousand crowns. And
here a generous contest arose between the master and pupil; and this we
give in the words of Mrs Jameson:--
"Annibal insisted on giving twelve hundred crowns to Albano,
and keeping only four hundred for himself, which he said
overpaid him for the little he had executed, and a few sorry
drawings, (_miseri disegni_) not worth the money. Albano,
not to be outdone in generosity, absolutely refused to take
anything; saying, that he was only his master's creature
and disciple, working under his orders, and profiting
by his instructions. At length they agreed to submit to
the arbitration of Herrera, who decided that the sixteen
hundred crowns (four hundred had been paid,) should be
divided between them. Even then it was with the greatest
difficulty that Annibal could be persuaded to receive his
share; and when he did, it was with a certain air of timidity
and bashfulness--_mostrando in certo modo temersene e
vergognarsene_."
In taking leave of Mrs Jameson's volume, the third of her series, we do
so with the hope that she will speedily fulfil her promise and bring
out the fourth part, relating to the Madonna, as connected with art.
The whole series we strongly recommend to the connoisseur at home as
to the traveller abroad; for as the best pictures in the world are of
subjects treated of by her, it is most desirable to have such a key to
them as she has given, and promises further to give. The woodcuts and
etchings are excellent, and maintain her reputation for judgment shown
in the selection, and her skill as an artist.
LAVENGRO.[23]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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