The History of Painting in Italy, Vol. 5 (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. 5 (of 6): From the Period of the Revival of the Fine Arts to the End of the Eighteenth Century
Lanzi, Luigi
Painting -- Italy -- History
The best professors that Romagna could boast at this period have already
been recounted in different Bolognese Schools; for which reason, without
treating them separately, I shall proceed to the painters of landscape.
Among these, excelling as well in drawing as in figuring, Orlandi gives us
the name of Maria Elena Panzacchi, instructed in the art by Taruffi; but
her landscapes are now little known, even in Bologna; and Crespi has
indicated not more than two. Those of Paolo Alboni, her contemporary, are
recognized in Naples and Rome itself, and in Germany, where he passed many
years. Those which are seen in the Pepoli palace, at the March. Fabri's,
and in other noble galleries, might be mistaken, according to Crespi, for
the productions of Holland or Flanders, on whose models he was almost
incessantly employed. Angiol Monticelli formed a style under Franceschini
and the younger Viani, which the same biographer highly extols. No artist,
at this period, better knew how to dispose his colours; none tinged his
leaves, his earths, his buildings, and his figures, with more nature and
variety. But he was cut short in mid-career: he became blind when his
talents were in their perfection.
Nunzio Ferraiuoli, called also Degli Afflitti, was born at Nocera de'
Pagani, not a Bolognese. From the studio of Giordano, he went to that of
Giuseppe dal Sole, in Bologna, in which city he was established. He
incessantly employed himself in taking rural views, both in oil and fresco,
and succeeded to admiration, equal, says P. Orlandi, to Claude and Poussin;
an opinion to be attributed to the friendship subsisting between them. He
had a mixed style, half foreign and half Albanesque, if we except his
colouring, which is not so natural. Cavazzone provided him with two pupils,
who, urged by their own genius, assisted by Ferraiuoli, became tolerably
good landscape painters; namely, Carlo Lodi and Bernardo Minozzi. The first
was an excellent disciple of his master; the second formed a manner
peculiar to himself. Besides his ability in frescos, he was distinguished
for his landscape in water-colours, which he illuminated on pasteboard, and
it met with much admiration both at home and abroad. Gaetano Cittadini,
nephew to Pier Francesco, excelled in the same manner, his rural views
displaying singular taste, fine effect of the lights, and spirited figures.
I have met with them throughout Romagna, as well as in Bologna. In Romagna,
however, Marco Sanmartino, a Neapolitan, or Venetian, is more generally met
with; and, in particular, at Rimini, where he some time fixed his
residence. His pieces are ornamented with beautiful little figures, in
which he excelled. He also attempted more extensive works, such as the
Baptism of Constantine, in the cathedral of Rimini, and the Saint preaching
in the Desert, in the college of S. Vincenzio, at Venice; though there,
too, he is distinguished by his landscape, which formed, indeed, his
profession.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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