Giorgio Vasari

“ A painter who lived at the same time with the above named, and was considered a tolerably good one, was Vincenzio Catena [33] :] : who occupied himself much more with portraits from the life, than with any other kind of pictures, and certainly, some of those by his hand which we have seen are most admirable: among others is that of a German of the Fugger family, an honourable person, and held in much esteem, who was at that time dwelling in Venice, at the merchants’ hall belonging to the Germans ”

“ In Mantua, Stefano also executed certain works, among which is an exceedingly beautiful Madonna, in the church of San Domenico, situated near the gate of the Martello. Now it chanced that the monks were obliged to make alterations in that part of the church, but they removed the head of this Madonna with great care, and placed it in one of the chapels of the transept, that of Sant’ Ursula namely, which belongs to the family de’ Recuperati, and where there are some paintings in fresco by the same master. ”

“ PAINTER,
and other venetian and lombard painters.
It is a well-known fact that when masters of our arts begin to distinguish themselves in any particular district, they are followed by many more, one after another, insomuch that there are frequently a large number in one and the same place. Emulation, the - struggle for distinction, and the connexion in which one of these artists may happen to stand with one great master, and one with another, combine to make all labour the more zealously for pre-eminence; each seeking to surpass the others as much as he possibly can. ”

“ This was considered to be the best of all the labours executed by Jacopo Avanzi, but, as mention has already been made of him in the Life of Niccolo d’ Arezzo, in reference to the works performed by him at Bologna, in competition with the painters Simone, Christofano, and Galasso, I will say no more respecting him in this place. ”

“ Or if even many are connected with and depend on one master, still they soon divide, either on the death of that master, or for some other cause; when different tendencies soon be- come manifest among them: each seeks the reputation of being first, and labours to become chief in his turn: all, therefore, do their utmost to give proof of their ability. ”

“ In the Scuola of San Marco, [43] at the upper end of the audience-chamber, Giovanni Mansueti painted a San Marco, whom he represents preaching on the Piazza, he also gives the fa9ade of the church, and among the multitude of men and women who are listening to the saint are Turks, and Greeks,—faces in short of men belonging to divers nations, and clothed in vestments of varied and peculiar character. ”

“ There is also a fine work by this master in Santa Maria in Vanzo, the church of the Seminario in Padua.— See Lanzi, Moschini, &c., &c. ↑ For details relating to these artists, the reader is referred to Lanzi, Zanotti, and the other authorities above cited. ↑ Lombardo is the family name of this master, not that of his country, since he was without doubt born in the city of Venice. The reader will find a short notice of Tullio Lombardo in Cicognara, Storia della Scultura, &c. ↑ The intagliatore of Vasari may here mean carver in wood, or artist in relief, as well as engraver. ”

“ Those painted within the church are no long:er to be found. ↑ These Prophets also, which are in fresco, are still visible. There are besides, other frescoes by the same master in this church, as there aje also in Sant’ Anastasia, San Lorenzo, and other churches of Verona. ↑ Liberate was not born until the year 1451, he could not therefore have been the master of Stefano da Verone, who flourished about the year 1400. —Ed. Flor., 1832-8. ↑ Lanzi assigns the year 1382 as the period about which this artist flourished. No work by his hand is now to be found in Verona ”

“ At the same time with Giusto, there w^as a painter of Ferrara, named Stefano, working in Padua, who adorned the chapel and tomb wherein repose the remains of Sant’ Antonio, with numerous paintings, as we have before related. ”