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
Brusasorci may be termed the Titian of this school. It is not known that
he received the instructions of any other master besides Giolfino, but
it is certain that he studied the works of Giorgione and of Titian, in
Venice. He has exhibited the style of the latter in a few of his
pictures with great accuracy, as we see in his _San Rocco_, in the
church of the Padri Agostiniani at Verona, and in several other pictures
for private persons, among which he has drawn nymphs and Venuses. An eye
accustomed to the originals of the best Venetians, detects a diversity
of tints which in the artist of Verona are less glowing. His genius
could not confine itself to the imitation of a single model, like some
of the Venetians; he became fond of Giorgione, and to judge from one of
his pieces remaining at Mantua, also of Parmigianino. There in the ducal
palace we meet with the Fable of Phaeton exhibited in different pieces,
which, however much defaced by time, are still admired for the fancy and
vivacity they display, no less than for their abundance of figures, and
the difficult foreshortenings he has inserted. But his chief merit was
shewn in his frescos, with which he decorated villas and palaces with
the erudition of a fine poet and the execution of a fine painter. He
produced, likewise, his histories; and the masterpiece of all I have
seen is the procession of Clement VIII. and of Charles V. through
Bologna, a picture exhibited in a hall of the noble casa Ridolfi, and
which has been engraved. A nobler spectacle cannot well be imagined; and
although other specimens, both of this and similar subjects are met with
very generally at Rome, in Venice, and in Florence, none produce equal
effect; combining in one piece, a large concourse, fine distribution of
figures, vivacity of countenances, noble attitudes in the men and
horses; variety of costume, pomp, and splendour and dignity, all bearing
an expression of pleasure adapted to such a day. This piece may compete
with another in the palazzo Murari at Ponte Nuovo, also in fresco,
though this last is preferred in the estimation of many before that of
the casa Ridolfi, as I have been informed by the learned Signor dalla
Rosa.
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