besides many works in the city of Pisa by the hand of Lippo.[1] But, notwithstanding these varied labours, it may be truly said that this artist was extremely unfortunate, not only because the greater part of his works were utterly destroyed in the siege of Florence, and have now perished almost everywhere, but still more for the unhappy manner in which the course of his life was terminated, and which happened on this wise: Lippo was a litigious and quarrelsome person, who loved discord better than peace, and one morning he used most offensive words to one of his adversaries, with whom he had to appear before the tribunal of the Mercanzia; in the evening therefore, as he was returning to his house, this man waylaid him, and stabbed him in the breast with a knife, in such a manner that he died miserably of his wounds a few days after.[2] His paintings date about the year 1410.
At the same time with Lippo, there was another painter in Bologna, a very clever man, called Lippo Dalmasi.[3] Among other things, this Lippo Dalmasi painted a Madonna in the year 1407, which may be seen in the church of San Petronio, at Bologna, and is held in high veneration. The arch over the door of San Procolo is also painted in fresco by his hand; and in the church of San Francesco he depicted a colossal picture of Christ, between St. Peter and St. Paul, for the tribune of the high altar. This work is graceful, and in a good manner; beneath it the artist has inscribed his name in large letters. The drawings of Lippo Dalmasi are tolerably good, as may be seen in our book: he taught the art to Messer Galante of Bologna, who afterwards drew much better than himself, as may also be seen from a specimen in our book, where there is a drawing from the life by his hand—a figure in a short vestment with wide sleeves.
- ↑ Morrona, in his Pisa Illustrata, makes no mention of these works, an omission from which we may reasonably conclude that they are no longer in existence.
- ↑ The epitaph on Lippo, given in Vasari’s first edition, is as follows “Lippi Florentini egregii pietoris monumentum. Huic artis elegantia artis (forse nominis) immortalitatem peperit: fortunæ iniquitas indignissime vitam ademit.”—Ed. Flor. 1832 and 1846.
- ↑ Lippo Dalmasi painted a great number of Madonnas in Bologna, where they are still held in the highest veneration; insomuch that many have been cut from the walls, and enshrined in places of greater security. —Bottari.
