PAINTERS AND ENGRAVERS.
Berlin. Gallery. Ketum to the Village.
Paris. Luxembourg. SheepfoIJ at Barbison {exhibited
at the Salon in 1S63).
BRENET, Nicolas Gur, a French historical painter, the son of Guy Brenet, an engraver, was bom in Paris in 1728. He was admitted into the Academy in 1763, and became an Academician in 1769, on which occasion he presented his picture of 'Theseus finding the arms of his father .^geus.' which, together with his ' Generosity of Bayard,' is now in the Louvre. There are likewise some paintings by him at Versailles. He also etched two plates, which are now very rare. Brenet was one of the first masters of Baron Gerard and of Taunay: he was nominated assistant-professor in the Academy in 1773, and professor in 1778. He died in Paris in 1792.
BRENNAN, Michael G., who was born at Sligo, studied in the schools of the Royal Dublin Society and of the Hibernian Society, and subse- quently in Italy. He exhibited for some years at the Royal Academy. He died in 1871 in Algiers. In the Dublin Gallery are two views at Capri by him.
BRENTANA, Simons, was born at Venice in 1056, but resided principally at Verona. He formed his style by an assiduous study of the works of Tintoretto, whose bold and 'igorous manner he preferred to more finished and laboured productions. To the fire of Tintoretto he added something of the dignity of the Roman school. Few of his pictures are in private collections, as he was chiefly employed by the sovereigns of his time, and for the churches. One of his finest pictures is ' The Martyrdom of St. Sebastian, who is crowned by an Angel,' in the church dedicated to that saint.
BRENTEL, Fbiedbich, a German engraver and miniature painter, was born at Laugingen in 1580, and became a citizen of Strassburg in 1601. His principal work is a set of plates for ' The Funeral of Charles III., Duke of Lorraine,' published at Nancy about 1610. They are from the designs of Claude de La Ruelle and Jean La Hire, and are etched in a slight, spirited manner. Other notice- able plates of his are a ' View of the large Hall at Stuttgart' (1619), and 'John Frederick I., Elector of Saxony ' (1609). He died at Strassburg in 1651. The prints of Brentel are etched with a very light point ; and his monogram is found on a series of landscapes ornamented with historical subjects and rich borders, and bearing the dates 1617 arid 1619. There are proofs of these borders without the land- scapes and figures.
BRESCIA, Giovanni Antonio da, was an en- graver of the 15th and 16th centuries, and is said to have been a brother of Giovanni Maria da Brescia. It is probable that he learned engraving in the school of Andrea Mantegna, as his plates are executed precisely in the style of that artist, though they are neater and more finished. He wanted, however, liis instructor's correctness of drawing. His attempt to imitate Albrecht Diirer was without success. He en-graved thirty-seven plates, which J, A , Dy he signed with the cipher X / ^T The following are the most important :
The Virgin suckling the Infant Jesus; Jo. An. Br. The Virgin adoring the Infant, St. Joseph sleeping; same mark. The Scourging of Clirist; Jo. Anton. Brixian. 1503. There are second impression.s of this plate ; datpd 1509 Hercules and Antaeus; Jo. An. Bx. Hercules strangling the Lion ; inscribed J). Here, invicto. A naked "Woman and Child, with a Satyr playing on a Pipe; marked 1507; Jo. An. BX. A white Horse, the same as that engraved by Albrecht Diirer; /. ^. £n>. 1505. A grotesque ; below, a Satyr and a Woman ; inscribed, Victoria Augusta; Jo. An. A Holy Family, with S.S. Elisabeth and John ; after Mantegna. An Entombment ; copy after the same. Mary with Saints; after Raphael.
BRESCIA, Fra Giovanni Maria da, was bom at Brescia in the latter part of the 15th century. He was brought up a goldsmith, a profession at that time connected with the arts ; and, after studying painting and engraving for some time, he became a monk of the order of the Carmelites at Brescia, and painted several pictures for the church of his monastery, and in the cloister some fresco works, representing subjects from the history of Elijah and Elisha. He also engraved some plates, which are executed in a manner that appears to be a feeble mixture of the style of Marc-Antonio and Andrea Mantegna. We have by him the following plates :
The Virgin and Infant Jesus, the Virgin holding a Book. The Virgin aud Infant in the Clouds ; a circular plate, with a Latin dedication and his name ; Fr. Jo. Ma, Brix. Cartnelita dicavit. M.D.II. St. Gregory resuscitating a Youth ; inscribed opus Fr. Jo. Maria Brixensis or. Carmelitarum. M.CCCCC.II. The History of the Emperor Trajan ; on a Balcony at the upper part of the plate is seen the Pope, and the words Uivus Gregorius ; and at the top ojms Fr. is Jo Maria Brixensis or. Carmelitarum. M.CCCCC.II. Tliree Monks of the Order of the Carmelites. 1512.
BRESCIA, Leonardo, was, according to Barotti, a native of Ferrara, and flourished about the year 1530. There are many of his pictures in the churches and convents of that citj', the most es- teemed of which are ' The Assumption of the Virgin,' in the church of II Gesii ; ' The Annunci- ation,' in the Madonna del buon Amore ; and ' The Resurrection,' in Santa Monica. It is supposed that he died in 1598. Artists of the name of Brescia are very numerous ; there are thirty so named in Zani.
BRESCIANINI da SIENA. See Poccinelli.
BRESCIANLNO delle Baitaglie, II. See Monti, Francesco.
BRESCIANO, GloviTA, called Brescianino, is said by Cozzando to have been a native of Brescia, and a scholar of Lattanzio Gambara. He was a reputable historical painter, both in oil and in fresco. He flourished about the year 1580.
BRESCIANO, GiR. See Savoldo, also Muziano.
BRESCIANO, PiETRO. See Avogadro.
BRESCIANO, ViNC. See Foppa.
BRESSANO, GiR. See Mdziano.
BRETEUIL, Jacqces Laure, Comte de, a French nobleman, was a great amateur of the arts, who, according to Basan, between 1730 and 1750, etched several plates after Berchem and other masters.
BRETHERTON, Charles, the son of James Bretherton, was bom about the j'ear 1760. At an early age he gave proof of the most promising talents as a designer and engraver. He executed several plates of portraits for Walpole's ' Anec- dotes,' as well as views and landscapes, which possess great merit ; and he produced some charm- ing drawings of his own composition, one of which, representing ' Kate of Aberdeen,' was engraved by
Tomkins. He died at an early age in 1783.
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