Andrea Mantegna (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. 1901 edition. Excerpt: ...Francesco (fig. 82) stands before his father with the easy selfconfidence of a man of the world, and holds by the hand his younger brother Lodovico, already, at the age of nine, appointed bishop of Mantua in 1468, whom we have already met with in the great family 1 See Raccolla rli Cr0m'.tli 0 Dz/cumeniz s/orivi Lo/ubardi z'/m/2'/1' przbelicali (la Giuseppe M1Z11er, Milan, 1857, ii. p. 170 (D'Arco). According to Equicola, Cranial (Ii /llanlorw (Mantua, 1521), there were in the castle portraits of the Emperor Frederick III. and of Barbara's brotherin-law, King Christian of Denmark, both by Mantegna. These portraits are certainly not to be traced in the family group. picture. The little Sigismondo shyly grasps the hand of his youthful uncle; this probably means that he too was destined for the ecclesiastical career. In this way the three prelates of the house form one group. The man to the right in front is Federico, the next heir (fig. 85), as appears from the correspondence of his features with the medal by Bartolo Talpa (fig. 86) and the portrait in the picture on the chimney-piece wall. The youth just visible between Lodovico and the cardinal is again Gian Francesco (fig. 83). Cardinal Francesco had arrived artists and poets. VVe have already seen that at the end of july Mantegna and Malagiste the musician had been sent to the baths of Porretta, high up in the Apennines, to keep the cardinal company. VVe know, too, that Francesco had brought with him from Florence Leon Battista Alberti and Angelo Poliziano, and was besides accompanied to Mantua by Bartolomeo Platina and some members of the family of Pico della l'lirandola. It was for the festivities at Mantua on this occasion that Poliziano, as he himself...