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 — John Shaqi
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
than in Bologna, though he gave several pupils to the former; among others
the celebrated Dosso and Ercole of Ferrara. He mostly resided at Mantua, at
which court he was highly appreciated, although Mantegna had been his
immediate predecessor, and Giulio Romano succeeded him. I may refer to what
I there wrote respecting this artist.
A less doubtful pupil of Francia's was Girolamo Marchesi da Cotignola. His
portraits are much praised by Vasari, but his compositions much less so. He
was by no means happy in all; and in particular one which he produced at
Rimini, is severely criticised by the historian. There are various
altar-pieces by him at Bologna and elsewhere, all of the usual composition
of the quattrocentisti, which goes to redeem his fault. One of these,
exhibiting very beautiful perspective, is in possession of the Serviti at
Pesaro, where the Virgin is seen on a throne, before which, in a kneeling
posture, is the Marchesa Ginevra Sforza, with her son Constantius II.; nor
is this the only specimen of his works conducted in the service of royal
houses. The design is rather dry, but the colour very pleasing; the heads
grand, the draperies well disposed; and in short, were it the only
production of his hand, he would well deserve to rank among the most
illustrious painters in the old style. That he obtained no reputation at
Rome, or Naples, as Vasari observes, was owing to his arriving in those
cities too late, namely, in the pontificate of Paul III.; so that his style
being then regarded merely in the light of an article out of fashion, he
was unable to make his way. He died during the same pontificate, between
the interval of 1534 and 1549. Orlandi, who brings in the decease of
Cotignola as early as 1518, is not only refuted by the above dates marked
by Vasari, and, with slight difference, by Baruffaldi, but moreover by a
picture of S. Girolamo at the church of the conventual friars of S. Marino,
executed in 1520.
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