Volltext Seite (XML)
THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY. Chap. X. 364 Caporali. In the second there is more of Tiberio and something in addition of Spagna. In each case, the result is poor and very inferior to the Peruginesque Nativity already mentioned. Nor did Melanzio, if on this occasion he distinguished himself, ever rise to the same level again, as may be testified by frescos and panels that can be attributed to him at Vecciano, 1 in S. Francesco, in the cathedral, and in S. Luminara, of Montefalco, and in the monastery of Subiaco. 2 But it is time to close the register of men who lived on the traditions of Perugino, or his more talented ap prentices, with a notice of the Alfani and their cotem poraries. A goldsmith and architect named Paris, having lived for more than half a century in Perugia, bred his son Domenico to the profession of art; 3 and the youth con tracted an intimate friendship with Raphael. He is said to have been strongly solicited by the latter to visit Rome, but in vain, 4 and Domenico was content to keep up a correspondence with his brother student, and to act as The drawing is straight and brok en. The same subject, dated 1507, of which this seems a replica, is in S. Domenico of Montefalco. In the cathedral of Montefalco, a lunette fresco of the Virgin, child, angel and Tobias, a saint in episcopals, and S. Sebastian, is a ruder work of the above class. In S. Luminara, a dead Christ, with the mourning Virgin and Mag dalen, has the character of Melan zio; and bears an inscription clos ing with the date 1509. Above the portal of the same church is a Virgin of Mercy with two saints holding up her mantle, seemingly a youthful production of the same artist. For Subiaco see vol. I*of this work, note to p. 86. 3 Mariotti, Lett. 241. 4 We have not discovered Pas- savant’s authority for this state ment (Life of Raphael, ub. sup. I. 217). , m a chapel at Vecciano, near Montefalco, is partly damaged and altered in tone by damp and restoring. The Virgin, enthroned with the child between two angels, is reminiscent of Melanzio. In the sides of the recess in which she is depicted, are the Baptist and S. Sebastian. In the vaulting are SS. Peter and Francis. The figures are not quite devoid of feeling. Yet the drawing is defective, chiefly in the extremi ties. There is thick substance of reddish colour. We are reminded in this piece of an imitation of Spagna and Tiberio. 2 At S. Francesco of Montefalco, the subject of a tavola assigneable to Melanzio, is the Virgin of Suc cour (life size figures), inscribed: GriseydaS.Bastiani f. f. pro aiabus dicti S.BastianiTarquini peritei et Franceschini A.D. MD.X. tempera. The figure of the Virgin protect ing the child from Satan, is long.
