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
boasted the chief sway in the branch of portraits, which were uniformly
characterized by great power and strong relief.
Other Bolognese artists, educated in the same academy, took up their
residence also at Rome, or in its state; nor were they few in number,
since, as was observed in the fourth epoch of that school, they were
received there with distinguished favour. We shall commence with the least
celebrated. Lattanzio Mainardi, called by Baglione Lattanzio Bolognese, had
visited Rome previous to Annibal, and in the pontificate of Sixtus V.,
conducted several works for the Vatican, which augured well of his genius,
had he not died there very young; as well as one Gianpaolo Bonconti, at an
age still more immature, having vainly followed his master to Rome, where
he had only time to make a few designs, but conceived in the best taste.
Innocenzio Tacconi was kinsman, according to some, and assuredly enjoyed
the confidence of Annibale. From him he received designs and retouches,
tending to make him appear a more considerable artist than he really was.
To judge from some of his histories of St. Andrew, painted for S. Maria del
Popolo, and S. Angiolo, in the fish-market, he may be said to have rivalled
his best fellow-pupils. But abusing his master's goodness, and alienating
his regard from Agostino, from Albano, and from Guido, by
misrepresentations, he received the usual recompence of slanderers. Annibal
withdrew his support, deprived of which he gradually became more and more
insignificant. Anton Maria Panico early left Rome, and, entering the
service of Mario Farnese, resided upon his estates, being employed in
painting at Castro, at Latera, and at Farnese, in whose cathedral he placed
his picture of the mass, to which Annibal also put his hand, even
conducting some of the figures. Baldassare Croce is an artist enumerated by
Orlandi among the pupils of Annibal; by Malvasia, among the imitators of
Guido. Baglione describes him as superior in age to all three of the
Caracci, introducing him into Rome as early as the times of Gregory.
Towards reconciling the accounts of these writers, it might be observed,
that continuing to reside at Rome, he may have taken advantage, as he
advanced in age, of the examples afforded by his noble fellow-citizens. His
style, from what we gather of it in the public palace of Viterbo, and a
cupola of the Gesù, as well as from his large histories of S. Susanna, and
other places in Rome, is easy, natural, and entitling him to the name of a
good mechanist and painter of frescos, but not so easily to that of a
follower of the Caracci. Gio. Luigi Valesio entered, though late, into the
same school, and chiefly attached himself to engraving and to miniature.
Proceeding to Rome, he was there employed by the Lodovisi under the
pontificate of Gregory XV., and obtained great honours. We find him
commended in the works of Marini and other poets, though less for the art,
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