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
Gregorio Lazzarini was pupil to Rosa, and not only freed himself from
the sombre sect, but rising into great reputation, wholly banished it
from the Venetian School, of which, for accuracy of design, he might be
pronounced to be the Raffaello. Whoever contemplates the pictures of
Lazzarini would, at first, suppose he must have received his education
at Bologna, or rather, perhaps, at Rome. Yet he never left Venice, and
by the strength of his genius alone, acquired the esteem of the most
learned professors in the art, and particularly of Maratta, a very
scrupulous panegyrist of his contemporaries. Thus the Venetian
ambassador at Rome, having occasion to apply to him for a picture,
intended to ornament the hall of the Scrutinio, he declined the
commission, expressing his surprise that it should be deemed requisite
to apply to him at Rome, while they had Lazzarini at Venice. And the
latter artist produced a piece which justified the judgment of Maratta,
representing in the noblest manner the triumphal memory of Morosini,
surnamed by the Venetians, Peloponnesiaco, which adorns the
forementioned hall. He most distinguished himself by his picture of San
Lorenzo Giustiniani, painted for the patriarchal church; perhaps the
best specimen in oil displayed by the Venetian School during this
period, whether for its taste of composition, its elegance of contours,
or the original beauty and variety of its countenances and its
attitudes. It possesses, likewise, force of colouring, in which he was
not always equally successful. In small figures he was extremely
graceful, a specimen of which may be seen in a choir of Santa Caterina,
at Vicenza, where he executed some very beautiful histories, in the most
glowing colours imaginable. The last altarpiece, bearing his own name,
was completed by his excellent pupil, Giuseppe Camerata, who in this, as
well as other pieces produced for churches, pursued the same career as
his master. Another of Lazzarini's pupils, however, Silvestro Manaigo,
persevered in an opposite course, for though of a fine character, he was
too rapid, and too much of a mannerist.
There flourished, likewise, at that period, two artists of Trevisi,
Francesco, included in the list of the Roman School, and Angiolo
Trevisani, who, both by birth and domicile, must be claimed for that of
Venice. Fine in his inventive pieces, as we gather from those at La
Carità, and various other churches in the capital, he was still more
celebrated for his portraits. In exercising this branch, he formed a
style founded upon nature, not, indeed, sublime, but very select, and in
part conformable to the schools then in vogue. His pencil displayed
diligence and research, especially in his management of the chiaroscuro.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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