The Republic of Ragusa: An Episode of the Turkish ConquestVillari, Luigi
History
The Republic of Ragusa: An Episode of the Turkish Conquest
Villari, Luigi
Dubrovnik (Croatia) -- History
In the Dominican church there are quite a number of early pictures,
some of them evidently the work of Raguseo. To the right of the high
altar is a large triptych, with St. Stephen the Protomartyr in the
centre, St. James and St. Mary Magdalen to the right, St. Nicholas and
St. John the Baptist to the left. The St. Stephen is seen absolutely
full face, looking straight out of the picture, with an expression of
calmness and benevolence. The Magdalen has also a very sweet look, and
is beautifully painted. The robes, as in the Dance pictures, are all
very rich and splendid, especially that of St. Stephen, which is of
gold, with the pattern diapered in dark lines and adorned with figures
of saints along the border.
To the left of the high altar is another triptych in the same style:
the Virgin and Child, the former with a lily in her hand and the moon
lying at her feet, surrounded by cherubs, in the centre; St. Paul
and St. Blaize to the right; St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Augustine to
the left. The St. Blaize bears in his hands an interesting model of
Ragusa, in which one can make out three large towers and several small
ones. The gold background has been restored, and is rather too garish.
In a side chapel is yet another Raguseo—a Madonna and Child, supported
by St. Julian, St. James, St. Dominic, and St. Matthew. The drawing
is bold and strong, perhaps more so than in any of the artist’s
other works, and some of the faces, especially that of the Child,
very fascinating: the robes, as usual, are magnificent. That of the
Virgin forms a curiously stiff platform, on which the infant Christ
is standing. Below are two little angels, one holding a lily and the
other roses. In the background is a faint suggestion of landscape.
Unfortunately, the lower part of the picture has been barbarously
mutilated to make room for a window.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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