Chap. III. NERROCCIO. G9 partner. 1 As a young beginner he alternately applied himself to carrying out orders for altarpieces, and to the modelling of figures in terra cotta. 2 His remaining pictures have found a final resting place in the Academy of Sienna. A Virgin and child, between SS. Michael and Bernardino, in that collection, bears his name and the date of 1476, and was probably done for Bernardino Nini of Sienna. 3 Its style varies little from that of Vecchietta or Francesco di Giorgio, except that the affected attitudes are perhaps more absolutely unna tural in their bend than theirs, and appear to caricature more markedly the action of plastic works of the olden time. Light washy colours are confined by dry out lines; and the human form, taken as a model for de lineation, is coarse and vulgar. 4 A better preserved piece in the same Gallery is the Virgin and child between saints, unauthenticated by date or signature, cold in tone, but of great softness, and laboriously finished. 5 * Nerroccio designed the Hellespontic Sybil in the pave ment of the Sienna Duomo (1483)/’ and carved the statue of Tommaso del Testa Piccolomini on the mo nument to that worthy above the door of the Campa nile in the cathedral. 7 He died in 1500. 8 Of humble aims, and moderate ability, he held a secure, if not a brilliant position in his native city; such an one as Francesco di Giorgio might perhaps have risen to, had not his engineering talent carried him far ahead of his less versatile colleague. 0 His custom was of another 1 Born in 1447. Doc. Sen. III. 8. 2 lb. III. 7. 8. 3 Doc. Sen. II. 356. 4 No. 160. Acad. Catal. Figures half length. 5 No. 221. Acad. Catal. The re maining pictures by Nerroccio in the Academy are: No. 161. a Vir gin and saints, half lengths; No. 162. arched rectangle, Virgin and child between SS. Jerom and Ber nardino, half lengths; No. 163. half length Virgin and child, SS. Ber nardino and Catherine. No. 180. arched rectangle, Virgin and child, SS. John and Andrew. c Doc. Sen. II. 379. 7 lb. II. 409. 8 lb. III. 7. For further dates respecting the artist see Doc. Sen. II. 340. 403. 415. 416—422. and III, 7. 8. 9. ,J Mr. Ramboux’s collection con tains the following, assigned to Nerroccio, No. 155—6. 160—3.
