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
long entertained a curiosity to learn whose pupil so considerable an artist
could have been; until I was gratified by finding that Paccioli, in his
dedication of the above cited volume, addressed to Guidubaldo, Duke of
Urbino, calls him the "attached disciple of Melozzo."
I was made acquainted with an artist of Forli, who flourished at the period
of Palmegiani, by his Eminence Card. Borgia, who in the church of S. Maria
dell'Orto, at Velletri, transcribed the following inscription: "Jo.
Baptista de Rositis de Forlivio pinxit, I. S. O. O. de Mense Martii." The
picture is on panel, and displays both good design and good colouring. It
represents the Virgin, with the holy child in her arms, seated in a round
temple supported by four columns, and each of these columns is clasped by
an angel, as if bearing the temple in procession through the air. The
angels are wholly arrayed in heroic dress. For this description I am
indebted to the very worthy cardinal.
In respect to the other cities of Romagna, I can easily suppose that I am
rather in want of materials, than that these have had no artists to boast.
I have recorded, not long since, one Ottaviano, and also one Pace da
Faenza, pupils of Giotto; and there was pointed out to me as the production
of the latter, an ancient figure of our Lady, in a church of the same city,
an edifice formerly belonging to the Templars. Giacomo Filippo Carradori is
included, from his style, among the ancients; in other points it is hardly
possible that he could have reached the fifteenth century. There are more
especially two pictures, in which he exhibits a change of style, although
he never displayed the powers of a superior artist. One of them bears the
date of 1580; the other that of 1582.
Another artist of Faenza better deserved mention in the first edition, but
I had then no account of him. This was Giambatista da Faenza, one of whose
pictures is preserved in the Communal Collection of the Lyceum, with the
author's name, and dated 1506. It exhibits the Holy Virgin; on whose right
two angels support the mantle, and on the steps of the throne appear St.
John the Baptist, a youth, and another cherub, in the act of playing on the
harp. It is correct in point of design, the tints are very pleasing, and
the folds something similar to those of Albert Durer; in other respects,
equal to Costa, and perhaps, also, not inferior to Francia. He was the
father of Jacopone da Faenza, and of his brother, Raffaello, from whom
descended Gio. Batista Bertuzzi, likewise an artist.
There is a Francesco Bandinelli da Imola, a pupil of Francia, pointed out
by Malvasia; and one Gaspero, also of Imola, was employed in painting at
Ravenna. In his native state, there is to be seen, at the Conventual
friars, a picture of our Lady, between Saints Rocco and Francis, in a style
inclining to the modern, accompanied with two portraits, very animated in
point of expression.
SCHOOL OF BOLOGNA.
EPOCH II.
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