Jacopo da Ponte

“ Taking courage from this successful experiment, and thinking he could produce a still better picture, Jacopo formed the resolution, but without saying a word to any one, of destroying all that he had done, and recommencing the work anew, after another design which he had in his thoughts. But the monks, meanwhile, seeing that the work was finished, and that Jacopo came to it no more, repaired to Andrea di Cosimo and urged him so pressingly, that he determined to have the painting uncovered. ”

“ These works being made known to Maestro Jacopo, the Servite monk, his desire to have the paintings of the Court of the Servites finished by Puntormo was greatly increased, and he determined to ensure their completion by that artist without delay, persuaded that the emulation awakened by the works of the other masters who had laboured there would incite him to produce something extraordinarily beautiful in that which remained to be done. ”

“ Jacopo ran off to the Golden Eagle hard by, much frequented by the Swiss mercenaries, and kept open all night; presently he returned with pewter cans. The wine increased the mirth; the little Ganymede holding the vessel high so that beaded bubbles winked on the red liquid; and overflown with pride in entertaining the company at his own expense, he played pranks and jested and jumped; and mimicking the hoarse voice of a confirmed toper, he sang the song of the unfrocked monk:—
'To the devil with cowl and with frock, oh! ”

“ Puntormo was buried in the first cloister of the church which belongs to the Servite monks, and beneath that picture of the Yisitation which he had himself painted there many years previously. He was honourably attended to his grave by all the painters, sculptors, and architects then in Florence. [57]
Jacopo da Puntormo was a man of frugal habits and regular life: in his clothing and mode of existence he was rather sparing and poor than liberal or nice, and almost always lived alone, not choosing to have any one who should serve or even cook for him. ”

“ When Andrea di Cosimo had completed the gilding of the escutcheon and had decorated the whole arch, Jacopo set himself, without any assistance, to execute the remainder of the work, when, inspired by the wish to distinguish himself, and by his desire for occupation, being also well aided by Nature, which had endowed him with infinite grace, and an extraordinary fertility of genius, he brought the whole to> completion with remarkable promptitude, and to such perfection, that an old and experienced master, though one of great excellence, could hardly have done it better. ”

“ But what can or ought we here to do unless it be to have compassion on Puntormo? for the masters of our vocation are subject to the liability of error as well as other men. Even the good Homer sometimes falls asleep, as it is said, nor can it yet be affirmed that there is any one work by Jacopo da Puntormo which has not something of good and praiseworthy in it, however much he may have strained and done violence to his genius. ”

“ In the upper part of the central fa9ade, and above the windows Puntormo depicted Our Saviour Christ in his glory surrounded by innumerable spirits and angels, all nude; he is raising those dead from their graves that he may call them to judgment.
I cannot say that I have myself ever been able fully to comprehend all the meaning of this story, although I know that Jacopo was a sufficiently ingenious person himself, and was besides in close intercourse with many sage and learned men ”

“ Now it chanced that in those days Raffaello da TJrbino came to Florence, when he saw this work and the youth who had accomplished it, with infinite amazement, prophesying that Jacopo would ultimately become what he was in fact seen to be. [3] No long time afterwards, Mariotto having left Florence and gone to Viterbo, there to execute the painting which had been commenced by Fra Bartolommeo, Jacopo, still but a youth, was left without a master. Alone and melancholy, he then went of his own accord to fix himself with Andrea del Sarto ”

“ L'un secol dopo l'altro al Mondo viene,
E muta il bene in male, e ’l male in bene. [10]
For the work performed by him on occasion of this festival Jacopo Puntormo obtained so much commendation in Florence, to say nothing of the profit, that perhaps few young men of his age ever acquired so much; wherefore, when Pope Leo afterwards visited Florence, Jacopo was much employed in the festive preparations then made. ”

“ San Giovanni Evangelista, Sant’ Agostino, and San Giuliano, are also present. [39] All these figures—his caprice for the German manner, which still pleased him greatly, not having been satisfied—are but slightly different from those of the Certosa. And the same may be affirmed of a picture painted by Jacopo for the nuns of Sant’ Anna, whose convent is situate at the gate of San Friano. The subject of that work is Our Lady with the Dead Christ in her arms ”

“ Among other particulars worthy of remark in this painting, are the portraits of certain lay brothers then in the convent, and whom I have myself seen there; they are represented as serving at table, and could not possibly be more life-like and animated than they are. [33]
While Jacopo was occupied with these works at the Certosa, his disciple Bronzino was zealously pursuing the study of his art at the same place; and being encouraged by Puntormo, who was most friendly and even affectionate to his disciples, he undertook the execution of a picture of St. ”

“ She turned away stately and resumed her needle as Bernardo, with a cry of thanks, ran from the room. A minute or two later he appeared before the sentry on the ramparts and flourished his token. To his surprise the man hardly glanced at it as he stepped aside to let him pass. He thought on this with some shapeless foreboding, as he leapt like a chamois down the steeps of the tower, the food, which he had snatched up, in his hands. God pity him and his awakening! There are emotions too sacred for minuting. Let it suffice that Jacopo had proved too faithful a prophylactic to superstition. ”

“ Someone has put your portrait in the privy? The devil! It is a miracle that you have not killed someone. Positively, I am curious to know the results and I hope that you make no mistakes in this affair which appears to me very delicate."
In August 1792, or thereabouts, Da Ponte on his way to Dresden, visited Casanova at Dux, in the hope of collecting an old debt, but gave up this hope on realizing Casanova's limited resources. In the winter of 1792-3 Da Ponte found himself in great distress in Holland. "Casanova was the only man to whom I could apply," he writes in his Memoirs. ”

“ It would be well to demonstrate to him the unreality of his influence with Galeazzo. Let him see the starving monk, in evidence of his power's short limits. It was possible the sight might kill his presumption for ever: return him disillusioned to obscurity.
So his presence here had been procured, with orders to the sentry to debar the Fool. Jacopo wanted no shrewd cricket at the boy's side, to leaven the horror for him with his song of cheer. ”

“ Jacopo Puntormo was a man of the most kindly dispositions, and had exceedingly agreeable manners, although marked by some peculiarities; he was so grievously afraid of death, that he would not even hear the subject mentioned, and took great pains to avoid meeting a dead body: he would never go to festivals, or frequent any place where large masses of people assembled, abhorring the discomfort of 'being pressed in a crowd ”

“ Jacopo, nevertheless is known for certain to be by the hand of Bronzino, who executed it all by himself while he was working with Jacopo at the Certosa, although it afterwards remained, I know not why, in the possession of Pontormo. All these three pictures, won by the industry of the mason from the hands of Jacopo, are now in the house of M. Alessandro de' Medici, the son of the above-named Ottaviano. ”

“ This Jacopo did accordingly, depicting thereon a figure of Our Saviour Christ lying dead, with two little Angels standing beside him weeping, and holding torches in their hands; at each end of this predella, moreover, he painted the figure of a Prophet standing within a circular framework; and these are so ably executed, that they appear not to have been done by a youth but by an experienced master. It is however possible that II Rosso likewise worked at this predella, as II Bronzino assures us he remembers to have been told him by Jacopo da Puntormo himself. ”

“ Giovan Maria Benintendi, about this same time, had adorned an antechamber in his house with many pictures by the hands of various able men; and after the work executed for Borgherini, incited by hearing Jacopo da Pontormo very highly praised, he caused a picture to be painted by him with the Adoration of the Magi, who went to Bethlehem to see Christ; which work, since Jacopo devoted to it much study and diligence, proved to be well varied and beautiful in the heads and in [Pg 162] every other part, and to be truly worthy of all praise. ”

“ This story, either because Jacopo had been warned by his friends, or that he did himself at length perceive, although tardily, the great injury which his study of the German engravings had done to his own soft manner, this story, I say, is much better than the others executed by him in the same place. There are, indeed, certain nude figures of Jews, with some heads of old men, which are so well painted in fresco that better could not be, although it is obvious that Puntormo has adopted that same manner of the Germans, to a certain extent in them all. ”

“ Still his blood curdled at the extremity to which Giacomo would push the affair, and he lingered to utter a parting word to the Bravo.
"Thou art said to carry a sure stiletto, honest Jacopo," he whispered. "A hand of thy practice must know how to maim as well as to slay. Strike the Neapolitan smartly, but spare his life. Even the bearer of a public dagger like thine may not fare the worse, at the coming of Shiloh, for having been tender of his strength on occasion."
"Thou forgettest the gold, Hosea!"
"Father Abraham! what a memory am I getting in my years! Thou sayest truth, mindful Jacopo ”

“ And that this occurred to him very many times in the progress of that work of San Lorenzo, just described, may be easily believed, because when he had once determined on what he chose to do, being a most able and skilful painter, he made no loitering, but readily executed what he desired, and could at once accomplish whatever he had determined to perform.
↑ Puntormo, or as it is now called Pontormo, is on the road leading from Pisa to Florence, and is about seventeen miles distant from the lastnamed city. ↑ The family name of Jacopo was Carrucci or Carucci. —Ed. Flor. ”

“ Few states would thus render a judgment against themselves, Jacopo!"
"Is the state answerable for the deed of the merchant, Signore?"
"Through its citizen. He who inflicts punishment on his own members, is a sufferer, surely. No one can part with his own flesh without pain; is not this true, fellow?"
"There are nerves that are delicate to the touch, Signore, and an eye or a tooth is precious; but the paring of a nail, or the fall of the beard, is little heeded."
"One who did not know thee, Jacopo, would imagine thee in the interest of the emperor! ”

“ Naturally he thought at once of Da Ponte, and Da Ponte suggested the legend of Don Juan Tenorio y Salazar, Lord of Albarren and Count of Maraña. This story had already attracted the attention of mask-makers and comedy-writers innumerable, among them Molière, Shadwell, Goldoni; and Gluck and Righini, Tritto and Gazzaniga had set it to music, as ballet, dramma tragicomico, or opera buffa. Da Ponte had made his fortune by the text of "Figaro," and when he began the libretto for Mozart he was also at work on texts for Martin and Salieri. ”

“ Jacopo permitted his gondola to be towed a league to sea before he prepared to re-enter it.
"You will steer for Ancona, Signor Don Camillo," said the Bravo, leaning on the felucca's side, still unwilling to depart, "and throw yourself at once under the protection of the Cardinal Secretary. If Stefano keep the sea he may chance to meet the galleys of the Senate."
"Distrust us not—but thou, my excellent Jacopo—what wilt thou become in their hands?"
"Fear not for me, Signore. God disposes of all as he sees fit. I have told your eccellenza that I cannot yet quit Venice. ”

“ The door opened, and a gleam from the lamp fell on the group in the cell. The keeper had the humanity to shut it again, leaving all in obscurity. The glimpse which Jacopo obtained, by that passing light, was the last look he had of his father's countenance. Death was fearfully on it, but the eyes were turned in unutterable affection on his own.
"The man is merciful—he will not shut thee out!" murmured the parent.
"They cannot leave thee to die alone, father!"
"Son, I am with my God—yet I would gladly have thee by my side!—Didst thou say—thy mother and thy sister were dead!" ”

“ Dear Jacopo, sweet Jacopo! is it not well to cleanse this earth of such lying prophets, that truth may have standing-room?'
'Ask truth, not me.'
'Nay, not to grieve truth's heart—the onus shall be ours. This same Franciscan—this soothsaying monk—where hast lodged him?'
'In the "Hermit's Cell."'
'Ah, old jester! He shall prove his asceticism thereby. Let practised abstinence save him in such pass. He shall eat his words—an everlasting banquet. A fat astrologer, by the token, as I hear.'
'He went in, fat.'
'Wretch! wouldst thou starve him? Remember the worms, thy cousins. ”