Page:An Elementary History of Art.djvu/385

In Florence. 355 Fra Filippo Lippi presents both in his life and works a striking contrast to Fra Angelico. He was received into the convent of the Carmelites as a boy when Masaccio was at work on his frescoes, and, if he did not actually receive lessons from that master, he certainly followed his style. According to a popular tradition, which recently discovered documents have shown to be erroneous, Lippi' s life was one long romance. Becoming weary of convent life, it is said, he ran away to Ancona, was taken captive by African pirates, and sold as a slave in Barbary. After eighteen months' captivity he won his master's favour by drawing his portrait with a piece of charcoal, and, as a reward, received his liberty. His life was divided between the pursuit of pleasure and of art. He was one of the first Italian masters to paint in oils, and to cultivate the sensuous side of art. His principal merits were his mastery of chiaroscuro, the breadth and grandeur of his figures, and his easy grace in grouping. He was also amongst the first to introduce genuine landscape backgrounds, and he often displayed considerable knowledge of nature ; but many of his works were spoiled by a certain want of calmness and dignity in his sacred personages. The academy of Florence contains many of his finest easel pictures, painted for the churches and convents of that city ; and in the National Gallery there are five sacred subjects ascribed to him : the Vision of 8. Bernard ; a Madorina and Child ; the Virgin seated, with an Angel presenting to her the Holy Child ; an Annunciation; and a group of S. John the Baptist and six Saints. Crowe and Cavalcaselle doubt the authenticity of the second and third of these ; but, on the other hand, give to Filippo Lippi the Adoration of the Magi, which is in the catalogue ascribed to Filippino Lippi. Of Lippi' s A A 2