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
Torrigli, in the Guide of Venice, where he painted the architectural parts
in the church of S. Giuseppe for the figures of Ricchi. Filippo Menzani is
known only as the attached disciple and faithful copyist of his master.
Gio. Batista Galli, and Bartolommeo Morelli, the former called from his
birth-place, Bibiena, the latter Pianoro, were similarly employed in taking
copies from him; though the second applied to it with extreme reluctance,
on account of Albani being "too highly finished, diligent, and laborious,
for the task of copying." Both these artists are commended by the
continuator of Malvasia. Bibiena, though he died early, conducted works
that might be ascribed to Albani, in particular the Ascension at the
Certosa, and his St. Andrew at the Servi in Bologna. Pianoro succeeded
admirably well in his frescos, more especially in the chapel of Casa Pepoli
at S. Bartolommeo di Porta, decorated by him throughout in such exquisite
taste, that, were history silent, it would be said to have been designed
and coloured by Albani's own hand.
Footnote 32: This rivalship is questioned in many places by
Malvasia, and denied by Orlandi, who in the article
Francesco Albano, designates him as the sworn friend of
Guido Reni, in close union with whom he prosecuted their
delightful art; but this can only apply to their early
years.
By some, Guido Reni is esteemed the great genius of the school; nor did any
other single artist excite so much jealousy in the Caracci. Lodovico was
unable to disguise it; and from a pupil he made him his rival, and in order
to humble him, bestowed his favour on Guercino, an artist in quite another
taste. Annibal too, after some years, on seeing him at Rome, blamed Albani
for inviting him thither; and, in order to depress him, he put Domenichino
in opposition to him. Even from the age of twenty, when he left the school
of Calvart, the Caracci discovered in him a rare genius for the art, so
elevated and ambitious of distinction, that he aspired to something great
and novel from the outset of his career. Some of his early efforts are to
be seen in the Bonfigliuoli palace, and in other choice collections,
displaying a variety of manner. He devoted much study to Albert Durer, he
imitated the Caracci, studied the forms of Cesi, and, like Passerotti,
aimed at giving strong relief and accuracy to the drawing of the muscles.
In some instances he followed Caravaggio, and in the aforesaid palace is a
figure of a sibyl, very beautiful in point of features, but greatly
overlaid with depth of shade. The style he adopted arose particularly from
an observation on that of Caravaggio one day incidentally made by Annibal
Caracci, that to this manner there might be opposed one wholly contrary; in
place of a confined and declining light, to exhibit one more full and
vivid; to substitute the tender for the bold, to oppose clear outlines to
his indistinct ones, and to introduce for his low and common figures those
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