FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97  
>>  
iption of the personage with all his styles and titles, and the date MDLXVI. The execution is again _di macchia_, but magnificent in vitality, as in impressiveness of general effect, swift but not hasty or superficial. The reserve and dignity of former male portraits is exchanged for a more febrile vivacity, akin to that which Lotto had in so many of his finest works displayed. His peculiar style is further recalled in the rather abrupt inclination of the figure and the parallel position of the statuette which it holds. But none other than Titian himself could have painted the superb head, which he himself has hardly surpassed. It is curious and instructive to find the artist, in a letter addressed to Philip on the 2nd of December 1567, announcing the despatch, together with the just now described altar-piece, _The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence_, of "una pittura d'una Venere ignuda"--the painting of a nude Venus. Thus is the peculiar double current of the aged painter's genius maintained by the demand for both classes of work. He well knows that to the Most Catholic Majesty very secular pieces indeed will be not less acceptable than those much-desired sacred works in which now Titian's power of invention is greatest. [Illustration: _Religion succoured by Spain. Gallery of the Prado, Madrid. From a Photograph by Braun, Clement, & Cie_.] Our master, in his dealings with the Brescians, after the completion of the extensive decorations for the Palazzo Pubblico, was to have proof that Italian citizens were better judges of art than the King of Spain, and more grudging if prompter paymasters. They declared, not without some foundation in fact, that the canvases were not really from the hand of Titian, and refused to pay more than one thousand ducats for them. The negotiation was conducted--as were most others at that time--by the trusty Orazio, who after much show of indignation was compelled at last to accept the proffered payment. [Illustration: _Portrait of the Antiquary Jacopo da Strada. Imperial Gallery, Vienna. From a Photograph by Loewy_.] [Illustration: _Madonna and Child. Collection of Mr. Ludwig Mond_.] The great victory of Lepanto, gained by the united fleets of Spain and Venice over the Turk on the 7th of October 1571, gave fitting occasion for one of Paolo Veronese's most radiant masterpieces, the celebrated votive picture of the Sala del Collegio, for Tintoretto's _Battle of Lepanto_, but also for one of
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   73   74   75   76   77   78   79   80   81   82   83   84   85   86   87   88   89   90   91   92   93   94   95   96   97  
>>  



Top keywords:
Titian
 

Illustration

 

Lepanto

 
Gallery
 
Photograph
 
peculiar
 

paymasters

 

prompter

 

grudging

 

canvases


foundation
 
declared
 

refused

 

extensive

 

Madrid

 

Clement

 

succoured

 

Religion

 

sacred

 

invention


greatest
 

master

 

Italian

 
citizens
 

judges

 
Pubblico
 
Palazzo
 

dealings

 

Brescians

 

completion


decorations

 

Orazio

 
October
 
Venice
 

fleets

 
victory
 

gained

 

united

 

fitting

 

occasion


Collegio

 

Tintoretto

 
Battle
 

picture

 
votive
 
Veronese
 

radiant

 

masterpieces

 
celebrated
 

Ludwig