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
Guido taught at Rome, and gave his pupils, as we have stated, to that city.
He educated still more for his native place, where he opened a school,
frequented by more than two hundred pupils, as we are informed by Crespi.
Nor are we by this number to measure the dignity of his character as a
master. He was an accomplished head of his school, who, in every place,
introduced into the art a more sweet and engaging manner, entitled in the
times of Malvasia the modern manner. Even his rivals took advantage of it,
the fact being indisputable that Domenichino, Albano, and Lanfranco, along
with their best disciples, derived that degree of delicacy, in which they
sometimes surpass the Caracci, from none but Guido. He would not permit the
scholars in his studio to copy in the first instance from his own works,
but exercised them in those of Lodovico, and the most eminent deceased
masters. It is conjectured also by Crespi, that he grounded his scholars in
the principles of the art of imitation, and all the first requisites,
without reference to the minutiæ, which are easily acquired in the course
of practice. Guido particularly prided himself on Giacomo Semenza, and
Francesco Gessi, whom he thought equal to any masters at that time in
Bologna. He employed them in that chapel of the cathedral at Ravenna, a
perfect miracle of beauty, and gave them commissions from the court of
Mantua and Savoy, assisting them also, both at Rome and his native place;
in return for all which he was repaid by Semenza with gratitude, but by
Gessi with bitter persecutions. He was followed by both in point of style,
and specimens are to be seen in some choice collections.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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