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
He continued to produce specimens until he was sixty years of age,
though he cannot, like many others, be accused of having painted too
much; each piece is worthy of Paul Veronese, and each has been
multiplied by some copyist; an honour that artists have not bestowed
upon the works of Tintoretto, or those of many others. His method of
making use of clear grounds, and as much as possible of virgin colours,
has greatly contributed to the preservation and freshness of his
colouring. In Venice we meet with several of his pictures yet glowing
with the peculiar grace he shed over them. A remarkable specimen is seen
in that belonging to the noble house of Pisani, exhibiting the family of
Darius presented to Alexander, which surprises as much by its splendour
as it affects us by its expression. Equal admiration was at one time
evinced for his Rape of Europa, which he drew upon a large scale, in
various groups, much in the same manner as Coreggio, in his Leda. In the
first she appears among her virgins in the act of caressing the animal,
and desirous of being borne upon him: in the second, she is seen carried
along, applauded by her companions, as she enjoys the scene riding along
the shore. In the third, (the only one in grand dimensions) she cleaves
the sea in terror, in vain desired and lamented by her virgin train.
This work, ornamenting the Ducal Palace, suffered much from the effects
of time, and has subsequently been restored.
In Verona, boasting a clime more favourable to paintings, we more
frequently meet with his pictures in complete preservation. Many noble
houses, in particular that of Bevilacqua, at one period his patrons, are
in possession of several. As an expression of his gratitude, he
represented in a portrait of one of the Bevilacqua family, his own
figure standing upright, with the air of his attendant. But his San
Giorgio, surrounded by the two grand histories of Farinato and of
Brusasorci already described, by some esteemed to be the best painting
in Verona, is, perhaps, in the most perfect state of any that remain.
The San Giuliano of Rimini is likewise a valuable piece, which may,
perhaps, compete with the San Giorgio. The San Afra, at Brescia, and the
S. Giustina, at Padua, placed in their respective churches, have also
suffered little; but the last, indeed, is in too lofty a situation. His
labours for different collections were very great, consisting of
portraits, Venus, Adonis, Cupids, Nymphs, and similar figures, in which
he displayed the most rich and varied beauty of forms, fancy in their
embellishment, and novelty in his inventions; all subjects indeed
familiar to his pencil, and which are to be seen in different galleries,
not omitting even the imperial one. Among his sacred subjects he was
more particularly attached to the marriage of St. Catherine, one of the
most laboured of which fell to the share of the royal collection of
Pitti. He produced, also, several Holy Families, in which the better to
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