Albertinelli, Mariotto, 1474-1515; Bartolomeo, fra, 1472-1517; Sarto, Andrea del, 1486-1530
Lucrezia lived to a good old age, being nearly ninety when she died;
she seems to have lived a very quiet life, and to have kept Andrea's
paintings with great care, except a few only which she sold. The house
in Via Crocetta passed many years afterwards into the possession of
another painter, Zuccheri, who embellished the studio front with reliefs
in stone, representing the paraphernalia of an atelier; but it is
Andrea's name which lives in the house, as his memory does in the
hearts of the Florentine people, and his works in the cloisters of the
Florentine churches. The people of the city always seem to claim Del
Sarto as especially their own. He is always _nostro pittore_, or _nostro
maestro_-and indeed as a master of fresco he never was surpassed. In
colouring he was in his way unique; in modelling, original and graceful;
while the transparent clearness of his shadows and brilliant blending
of tints in the lights render his handling incomparable. A little more
refinement and aesthetic feeling would have placed him on a level with
the great leaders of the Renaissance.
CHAPTER VIII.
SCHOLARS OF ANDREA DEL SARTO.
Andrea's scholars were numerous, though only a few rose to any great
eminence. Of these, JACOPO CARRUCCI, "da Pontormo" (born 1494, died
1557), was by far the most talented. Left an orphan at an early age, the
charge of his sister devolved on him, and he placed her with a relation
while he was pursuing his art training. He studied under a diversity of
masters, including Leonardo da Vinci, Albertinelli, Piero di Cosimo; and
finally, in 1512, he entered Andrea del Sarto's school, but did not
stay long there either. Some say Andrea was jealous of his success; he,
however, had generosity enough to praise and acknowledge his talent, and
to show his appreciation by giving him important work to do in his own
studio.
Pontormo did the predella to Andrea's altar-piece of the _Annunciation_
for the convent of S. Gallo. His hand is to be seen also in several
of his master's works. He drew public attention first by painting two
figures of _Faith_ and _Charity_ on the escutcheon of the Medici for
Andrea di Cosimo, who had obtained the commission, but did not feel
equal to executing it. Michelangelo, on seeing these figures, prophesied
great things for the youth, who was at that time only nineteen years of
age.
The people of Pontormo, his native town, were so proud of him, that they
sent for him to emblazon the arms of Pope Leo over the gate of their
city.
He was next employed by one of the festal companies of the age, called
the Company of the Diamond, to design cars, banners, and costumes for a
triumphal procession in honour of Leo X.'s elevation to the papal chair;
and he organised a very suggestive array of the ages of man, illustrated
historically. He decorated the Papal Hall for Leo X.'s entrance, and
later began to be employed on more serious and lasting works.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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