Pietro Vannucci, called PeruginoWilliamson, George C.
History
Pietro Vannucci, called Perugino
Williamson, George C.
Perugino, approximately 1450-1523
The figure of the Saviour is inaccurate and badly drawn, the face is
quite unsatisfactory, the mandorla clumsy and rigid, the angels poor and
lacking in expression, and their draperies feeble. The colouring of the
picture, the landscape, the faces and hands, the wonderful detail, the
composition, the balance, and, above all, the technique, speak to me
strongly of the master, to whom I ascribe the picture unhesitatingly. I
can see no hand of Raphael in it, and while I see no special reason for
our crediting the story that gives the sleeping soldier on the right the
face of Raphael, yet even that statement but renders it less likely that
Raphael had a hand in the picture itself, while I believe that a close
comparison of the Cambio portrait with that of the flying soldier on the
left will dispose of the theory that in his face we have delineated the
countenance of the master himself.
[Illustration:
_Alinari photo_] [_Vatican, Rome_
THE RESURRECTION]
We must now retrace our steps and look at the artist at Perugia.
Mariotti records that in 1501 Perugino was one of the Priori of the
City, and, being salaried officers, the Priori were obliged, according
to Marchesi, to reside in the Palazzo Communale, and give daily
attendance for magisterial business. This involved a good deal of civic
duty, and doubtless consumed a great deal of time, and probably during
1501 Perugino did little painting. He was concerned also in domestic
matters, as Orsini states that in two deeds, dated December 11th, 1501,
and February 24th, 1502, he divided up certain property that had
belonged to his uncle, Giovanni, and which devolved to himself and his
two nephews, Agnolo and Giacomo di Giovanni. However, if he was at the
moment unable to paint, he was prepared to make contracts for future
work, and Mariotti records several of his interesting engagements.
One dated September 10th, 1502, is for some saints and angels around a
large crucifix carved in wood, belonging to the convent of San Francesco
al Monte, and for a "Coronation of the Virgin" to form the reverse side
of this altar-piece. For that he was to have 120 florins. In the same
year he agreed to supply to Baccio d' Agnolo designs for the intarsia
work in the stalls of St. Agostino, which Baccio was to make in one year
for 1120 florins, and for the due performance of his task Perugino
became surety. He was also to paint a double altar-piece for St.
Agostino, and was to design a frame for it which Tomaso was to carry
out.
By another contract he agreed to paint a "Sposalizio" for the Duomo.
This latter part of the contract I do not believe he ever carried out,
and the St. Agostino altar-piece was not finished for nearly twenty
years, as there is a record of its completion in a letter dated
September 1521, written to the Podesta of Trevi, advising him that the
Prior of St. Agostino had appointed a valuer for the picture, and
begging him to apprise Perugino, who was then at Trevi, of the fact.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account