The History of Painting in Italy, Vol. 3 (of 6): From the Period of the Revival of the Fine Arts to the End of the Eighteenth CenturyLanzi, Luigi
History
The History of Painting in Italy, Vol. 3 (of 6): From the Period of the Revival of the Fine Arts to the End of the Eighteenth Century
Lanzi, Luigi
Painting -- Italy -- History
The name of Melchior Colonna also occurs, though hardly known in Venice,
and some perhaps would add that of Bertoli, a Venetian, to be met with
affixed to a picture at the chapel of San Niccola, in Tolentino. It
represents the Plague that visited that city, if I mistake not, and
which disappeared at the solicitation of the patron saint. There is also
an account of another artist, who from his age might have received the
instructions of Tintoretto, or at all events obtained them from his
works; his name was Gio. Rothenamer di Monaco. Arriving in Italy with
but a small fund of knowledge, acquired in the studio of a poor national
artist, he distinguished himself at Rome, and perfected his style in
Venice, adopting in a great measure the maxims of Tintoretto. There, at
the Incurabili, he left a Santa Cristina, a Nunziata at San Bartolommeo,
and, as we have reason to believe, other works in private possession, by
which he obtained some degree of credit. Subsequently arriving at a
handsome practice in England, he nevertheless contrived to die there in
poverty, his funeral expenses being defrayed by the alms of some
Venetians. But few others, observes Zanetti, pursued the same path,
probably because at that period more pleasing and popular styles were in
vogue. Ridolfi, on the other hand, asserts, that all young artists
towards the end of the century were anxious to study him for their
model; and we shall find, in treating of the _mannerists_, that he was
acknowledged by them as their sovereign master. We must, in the next
place, enter upon a consideration of the school of Bassano.
Jacopo da Ponte, son to that Francesco, who, in the preceding epoch, was
commended as one of the better artists who flourished during the
fourteenth century, was nearly contemporary with Tintoretto, and was
instructed by his father in the art. His earliest efforts, that are seen
in the church of San Bernardino, in his native place, bear the impress
of such an education. On resorting to Venice he was recommended to
Bonifazio, a master no less jealous of his art than Titian or
Tintoretto; insomuch that Jacopo never obtained the advantage of seeing
him colour, except by secretly watching him through a crevice in the
door of his studio. He resided but a little time in Venice, employed in
designing the cartoons of Parmigianino, and in taking copies of the
pictures of Bonifazio and Titian, whose scholar, upon the authority of
some manuscript, he had also been. And, if conformity of manner were
sufficient evidence, by no means always a certain guide, we might admit
the truth of such supposition; his second style being altogether that of
Titian. A few of his pictures are met with in his native place, such as
his Flight into Egypt, at San Girolamo, and a Nativity of the Redeemer,
in possession of Sig. Dottor Larber, both youthful productions, but
which seemed to promise another Titian; so richly were they imbued with
his sweetness of taste.
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