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
foot of the throne, extremely graceful, like the rest, and displaying a
degree of taste and nature, such as we find in Titian. If we cannot then
adduce authority sufficient to prove that Silvio was his scholar, it
may, at least, from such a specimen, be strongly suspected.
I am indebted to Sig. Ab. Morelli, who in the _Notizia_ already cited,
has pointed out the true birthplace of Bonifazio Veneziano, who appears,
notwithstanding the authority of Vasari, Ridolfi, and Zanetti, to have
been a native of Verona, not of Venice. He is pronounced by Ridolfi a
pupil of Palma, and by Boschini, on the other hand, the disciple of
Titian, whom he followed as closely as his shadow. It was an usual
observation, during the time of Boschini, and yet repeated indeed, in
regard to certain doubtful pieces; is it a Titian or a Bonifazio? He
approached nearest, perhaps, to Vecellio, in his Supper of our Lord,
preserved in the monastery of the Certosa. For the most part he boasts a
freedom, a spirit, and grandeur of hand, peculiarly his; although it is
known that he greatly admired the vigour of Giorgione, the delicate
taste of Palma, and the attitude and composition of Titian. The merit of
this professor of the art was early appreciated, and historians have
often observed that the three most distinguished artists of that period
were Titian, Palma, and Bonifazio. Public edifices abound with his
productions, and the ducal palace, among other of his historical pieces,
boasts that grand Expulsion of the money dealers from the Temple, which,
for the number of the figures, for its spirit, and power of colouring,
as well as for its fine perspective, is enough to render his name
immortal. A more than mortal air of divinity shines in the countenance
of the Redeemer, who, alone and unsupported, throws consternation into a
crowd of people intent upon their worldly interests, and with a mere
scourge of ropes, from which they fly in the utmost terror. And how
anxiously is some wretch seen collecting his money upon those tables
glittering with silver and gold; and with what dread he looks back, in
order that he may escape from the blows! What an expression of alarm is
seen in the countenance of each spectator; women, boys, people of every
rank, terrified at the strangeness of the spectacle! This noble picture
was presented to the public collection, not long ago, by the family of
the Contarini; and for this reason we find no notice taken of it in the
work of Zanetti. Other paintings might be mentioned upon a grand scale,
and rich in figures, adapted for private collections; the most
celebrated, perhaps, of which are his series of Triumphs, taken from
Petrarch; pieces that have since passed into England. He likewise
employed himself upon pictures of a smaller size, rarely, however, to be
met with. One of these, a Holy Family at Rome, is in possession of
Prince Rezzonico. The scene represents the workshop of S. Joseph, where
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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