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Chap. III. MATTEO DA SIENNA. 85 fused and unsatisfactory manner. The action is unnatural; the idea grotesque; the expression grimace. Architec ture, studied from old models, is applied without know ledge of perspective; and the absence of systematic ac quirements in this respect is perhaps the cause why Herod appears to exceed in stature the nearer figures of soldiers and of women. Anachronisms of costume are not compensated by taste, nor is the dry bone of form animated into any sort of life. It is a relief, indeed, to pass from these unsuccessful efforts at rendering instant motion to such religious themes as that of the adoration of the Virgin in the Si enna Academy, 1 or the Madonnas of the Palazzo Pub- blico 2 and Palazzo Tolomei in the same city, 3 or of the Duomo at Pienza. 4 There is hardly a church or a brother hood in the Siennese country that may not boast of a Dominici’s lives.) It is also af firmed that, being in oil and dated 1418 (Dominici ap. Della Valle), Matteo is entitled to all sorts of praise, but even Della Valle sug gests that the date of 1418 is wrong (Let. Sen. III. 57); and truly, re painted and tampered with as it has been, it runs: “Matteus Jo- hanni de Senis MCCCC... XVIII”. We cannot even say whether this picture he an original or a copy, and the absence of any other works of Matteo at Naples would prove that he never was there. Another copy of this massacre of the Inno cents under Matteo’s name is at Schleissheim, — No. 1134, a copy on canvass in oil, of a later period. 1 No. 175. This is one of Mat teo’s best panels in the gallery of his native place, the nudes being careful and of Umbrian softness in movement and outline. The action is comparatively good and free, the colour a little grey and flayed. The piece may be found engraved in Rosini. The remaining pictures in the academy of Sienna are four Madonnas with saints severally numbered 176. 7. 8 and 263. 2 The Virgin and child is at tended in rear by four angels. The picture is on a pilaster of the hall painted by Spinello Aretino. The date of 1484 is on the work; but no name. 3 This is also a Virgin, child and angels. 4 The Virgin and child are en throned between SS. Mathew and Catherine, Bartholomew and Luke. In the lunette is a flagellation and in the predella three medallions of the Ecce homo, Virgin, and Ev angelist. On the border are the words: “Opus Mathei Johannis de Senis”. Stains are on the faces of the child and of the Virgin; the blue cloak of the latter being re painted. The green drapery on the shoulders of S. Mathew is likewise renewed; the mouth of S. Luke repainted and his head stained. Another picture said to be in the Compagnia di S. Giovanni at Pienza not seen by the authors, is said to be better than the fore going.
