Isabella D'Este, Marchioness of Mantua, 1474-1539; A Study of the Renaissance Volume 1 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER XX 1504--1512 Mantegna's last works for Isabella d'Este--His illness and debts --He appeals to Isabella for help, and sells her his antique bust of Faustina--Calandra's description of Comus--Death of Mantegna and tribute of Lorenzo da Pavia--Pictures in Andrea's workshop--The Comus finished by Lorenzo Costa-- Letters of Antonio Galeazzo Bentivoglio to Isabella--The Triumph of Poetry or Court of Isabella--Costa's portrait of the Marchesa--Francia paints the portrait of her son Federico and her own--Correspondence on the subject with Casio and Lucrezia Bentivoglio--Death of Giorgione. The year in which Isabella d'Este made a last attempt to obtain a picture for her studio from the aged Bellini was also that of Mantegna's death. His health had long been failing, and when, in April 1505, he implored Isabella's good offices on behalf of his son, who had incurred the Marquis's displeasure, and been banished from Mantua, his feeble state of mind excited the Marchesa's deepest compassion. "M. Andrea Mantegna came to recommend his son to me," she wrote to her lord on the 1st of April, "looking all tearful and agitated, and with so sunken a face that he seemed to me more dead than alive. The sight filled me with so much compassion that I could not refuse to beg Your Excellency to restore his son to him with your usual goodness, for, gravely as he has sinned against you, the long service, incomparable excellence, and rare merits of M. Andrea M MANTEGNA'S ILLNESS 363 claim this favour on behalf of his rebellious son. If we wish him to live and to finish our work Your Excellency must gratify him, or else we shall soon lose him, and he will die, rather of grief than of old age; so I recommend him with all my heart to your good graces.--Your...