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
Whilst the school of Amalteo continued to embellish various cities,
provinces, and villas of the Friuli, another from the same place started
into competition with it, first introduced by Pellegrino, of which
mention has been made at page 66, though I reserved its description for
this place. The whole of Pellegrino's disciples followed him at a very
unequal pace, and few of their works can be pointed out which appear to
catch the spirit of his fresco of S. Daniel, or his altarpiece at
Cividale, already mentioned with praise. Luca Monverde was an artist who
flourished but for a short period, nor ever advanced beyond the Bellini
manner, imbibed from his master at a very early age. In this, however,
he arrived at so high a degree of perfection, that his picture, adorning
the great altar of the Grazie at Udine, a church dedicated to S.
Gervasio and S. Protasio, which is there placed around the throne of the
Virgin, was highly commended previous to its being retouched. And we are
elsewhere informed that Luca, while he flourished, was regarded as a
sort of prodigy of genius. Girolamo d'Udine, supposed also to come under
this standard, has been omitted by Grassi, in his sketch of the painters
transmitted to Vasari, and is not otherwise known than for his little
picture of the Coronation of our Lady, remaining in San Francesco at
Udine, with his name attached. The vigour of its colours is striking,
the invention novel, but rather strained; and, if I mistake not, the
whole betrays an artist educated with other maxims. I pass over Martini,
though I am aware Altan maintains him to have been a scholar, rather
than a fellow pupil of Pellegrino; but the authority of Vasari, combined
with his own beautiful picture at S. Mark's, so nearly simultaneous with
that of Pellegrino, induce me to retain my own opinion. I should hardly
venture to decide to which of the two preceding masters Bernardino
Blaceo ought to be referred; an artist who appears, from the great
altarpiece of S. Lucia, with his name attached, to have retained the
ancient style of composition, while in other points his manner is
sufficiently graceful and modern. Another artist who has been with more
certainty given as a pupil to Pellegrino, was by birth a Greek, of
singular merit in his art, but who has retained only his national
appellative of N. Greco. Thus the number of disciples from San Daniele,
at all worthy of such a master, is reduced to two, Florigerio and
Floriani. The labours of the former in Udine, executed in fresco, have
however perished, though his picture of S. George, in the church of the
same name, still survives, of itself sufficient to constitute an
artist's fame. It is esteemed by many the best specimen in the city,
displaying both in the figures and the landscape a strength of hand
which appears to rival Giorgione, more than any other model we could
mention. He painted, likewise, with equal spirit, though scarcely
perhaps with equal softness, in the city of Padua; and there he
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account