The History Of Painting In Italy Volume Vi Part 90

U.

Unity of History, neglected by Raffaello, ii. 101; By Coreggio, iv. 108.

_See also_ v. 470, 471.

Urbino, ill provided with aids and conveniences for the art in the time of Raffaello, ii. 53.

V.

Variety, not studied by Pietro Perugino, nor by Ba.s.sano, ii. 31, iii.

201.

Neglected by Taddeo Zuccari, ii. 135; and by the mannerists, ii. 264, iii. 207, v. 438, 439.

Varnish, _see_ Restoration of ancient paintings.

Virgin, Holy. Ancient Images of, i. 2, 348, ii. 9, 346, iv. 209, v. 67.

Some painters celebrated for their Madonnas, i. 198, 310, ii. 95, 220, 278, 284, 315, iii. 52, 59, 116, 117, iv. 96, 261, 315, v. 19, 26, 106, 180, 224, 261, 314, 451, 462.

W.

Wax, used by the ancients in painting, i. 88.

Works, connected with painting, considered by historians of the art, pref. xii.

Written on painting, criticised by Algarotti, pref. xi.

THE END.

J. M'Creery, Tooks Court, Chancery-lane, London.

Critical Opinions on

LANZI'S HISTORY OF PAINTING IN ITALY,

TRANSLATED BY THOMAS ROSCOE.

FROM THE EDINBURGH REVIEW.

"When we consider the number of painters, the great quant.i.ty of historical matter, the numerous anecdotes, the solid and sensible criticism, and the vast ma.s.s of valuable information, and especially the astonis.h.i.+ng variety of original and striking ideas, that are expressed in a brief, terse style, in six volumes, we are surprised at the comprehensive shortness of THIS HIGHLY ESTIMABLE WORK. We are delighted to find much of the ancient simplicity in the ELEGANT AND CLa.s.sICAL STYLE OF THESE GOLDEN PAGES, from which, more than from any other book, and perhaps as much as it can be derived from books, we are able to attain an idea of the wonderful genius of the Italians for the Fine Arts. IT IS WELL ADAPTED TO FORM THE TASTE CORRECTLY; AND IS A FAITHFUL GUIDE TO TRAVELLERS, many of whom, having examined the works upon which Lanzi delivers his opinion, with his review in their hands, have bestowed upon him this expressive, strong, and hearty panegyric, 'HE IS A FINE FELLOW.'

"Mr. Roscoe deserves and will receive the thanks of all lovers of the Fine Arts, for his valuable contribution towards the advancement of objects which they have much at heart, and which may be considered of high importance. He has here afforded his countrymen another opportunity to acquire some knowledge of the Fine Arts, and of their history, which a.s.sists the mind in reflecting upon the productions of the great masters; teaches us to admire them upon sound principles, and redoubles the pleasure of contemplating them; and so shews the truth of the ancient saying, that the most wise are the most happy. THIS KNOWLEDGE, MOREOVER, FORMS, IN THE PRESENT DAY, A NECESSARY PART OF POLITE EDUCATION."

FROM THE LITERARY GAZETTE.

"LANZI'S HISTORY OF PAINTING HAS LONG AND JUSTLY ENJOYED THE HIGHEST REPUTATION UPON THE CONTINENT. From 1795 to the present time, (during which period a considerable number of editions have appeared) it has increased in fame, and widened its circle, as a WORK OF GREAT ORIGINAL TALENT ON THE GENERAL SUBJECT OF THE FINE ARTS, AND ONE OF MUCH AUTHORITY FOR REFERENCE.

Altogether, the Arts owe a debt of the deepest grat.i.tude to the man, with whom Mr. Roscoe has, by this excellent translation, put it in the power of every English reader to become familiarly acquainted. And we will say, that in so doing he has enabled them to enjoy a very great pleasure. Unlike the majority of works upon Science or Art, Lanzi has contrived to render his work at once FULL OF INTERESTING INFORMATION AND AGREEABLE INCIDENT. There is nothing dry about the narrative; but, on the contrary, it seems to us that NO ONE WHO EVER ADMIRED A FINE PICTURE, CAN TURN OVER A PAGE OF THIS PUBLICATION WITHOUT BEING ATTRACTED TO PROCEED, and without feeling an increase of appet.i.te grow with what it feeds on. In truth, WE ARE OURSELVES SO DELIGHTED WITH THE HISTORY, that we do not exaggerate our opinion of its merits, when we transcribe as our own the panegyric of the Cavalier Boni, already alluded to. (_See Lit. Gat. No. 567._) It is, however, difficult to convey a just idea of a work composed upon so enlarged and complete a scale; which embraces a period of about six centuries, and fourteen Italian schools, but treated with such rapidity and precision, as to form in itself a compendium of whatever we meet with in so many volumes of guides, catalogues, descriptions of churches and palaces, and in so many lives of artists, throughout the whole of Italy."

FROM THE MONTHLY REVIEW.

"This Narrative, which exhibits the traces of the utmost diligence and the most scrupulous regard to accuracy, is interspersed with critical views, so philosophical, so eloquent, and so just, as to convince us of the thorough competence of the Abbe Lanzi for the task which he has undertaken. The extent of his general erudition appears abundantly throughout his work. To vast and varied acquirements, he united uncommon powers of intellect, together with an enthusiastic love for the beauties of the Art, to the study of which he devoted himself from an early period of life;--with what success, is attested by the favourable reception of his labours.

Completeness and impartiality as to its details, are not the only merits of this work. To the connoisseur it will form a guide to facilitate his acquaintance with the peculiar styles, and their varieties, of the great masters; a species of knowledge which it is difficult to convey, although of the greatest importance to possess. Nor is the utility of this work to be overlooked, in disseminating amongst all cla.s.ses a just taste for, and sound opinions upon, the Arts. To pretend that, in the foregoing notice, we have furnished anything like an indication of the mult.i.tude of interesting details contained in these volumes, would be as offensive to truth, as it would be unjust to the author of as singular a monument of labour and diligence as modern literature can boast of. Neither do we attempt to insinuate that we have been able to suggest any adequate notions of the admirable tact and skill shewn in his arrangement, in which, without excluding any topics necessary to the purposes of his history, the Abbe Lanzi disposes of every personage and event in the rank that is due to their relative importance. And if we have been deficient in these respects, we feel that we have still more failed in giving a proper idea of the accurate and discriminating mind of the critic, or of the perfectly judicial impartiality of his opinions; and when we compare our imperfect a.n.a.lysis of his work with our own impressions of the author, we are sensible how little we have been able to transfer to our pages any portion of those lineaments of taste, graceful propriety, and eloquence of language, or of that spirit of regulated enthusiasm, which are diffused through the 'History of Painting in Italy.' With respect to the merits of the translator, the most obvious one is that of having given to British literature a work of the very highest value, at no inconsiderable sacrifice of time and trouble. His version, in general, has all the force and precision of style which belong to the original."

FROM THE FOREIGN QUARTERLY REVIEW.

"Luigi Lanzi was a learned churchman, a skilful antiquarian, a lover of painting and sculpture, a sensible critic, something of a poet, and in all those matters remarkably diligent and enthusiastic. He travelled, he examined, he collected, he studied, and he wrote; and early acquired the reputation of a candid judge of art, and a sagacious antiquarian. His admirable work has been recently translated into English by Mr. Thomas Roscoe, a gentleman whose varied knowledge in foreign literature ent.i.tles him to much respect. His name is sufficiently known to the public, not to need any great recommendation at our hands; but we must indeed say, that the translator has conferred a great benefit on that portion of his readers who are not professed Italian scholars. The work of Lanzi is full of difficulties, even to Italians themselves, on account of the terms of Art with which almost every page is full: it thus very much redounds to the credit of Mr. Roscoe, to have produced so excellent and faithful a translation, and written wherewithal with great elegance of diction. Of this our readers cannot fail to be at once convinced, when we inform them that he was materially a.s.sisted by his own respectable father; by Mr. W. H.

Ottley; by Dr. Traill; and by Signor Panizzi, at present resident at Liverpool, one of the profoundest scholars and best of Italian critics."