flourished; his manner closely resembled that of the abovenamed painters, but his colouring was more brilliant and his figures less majestic. Alvaro painted many pictures in Yolterra, and there is one by his hand in Sant’ Antonio of Pisa, with others in other places, but as they are of no great excellence we need say nothing more of them. In our book there is a drawing by Taddeo Bartoli, which represents Christ with two Angels, and is done with the practised hand of a master.[1]
LORENZO DI BICCI, PAINTER, OF FLORENCE.
[born 1350—died 1427.]
When men who distinguish themselves in any honourable vocation, join excellence of character and the grace of pleasing manners to their abilities for action; above all, when they unite with these qualities, an obliging disposition and a courtesy which renders them ever prompt and ready to oblige those who require their services—they are nearly sure of securing all that, in a certain sense, can be desired in
- ↑ A picture by Taddeo was taken to Paris in 1812, and still remains in the Louvre. It represents the Virgin, the Infant Jesus, and four Saints, on a gold ground.
from Pisa. This painting, the figures of which are of the size of life, represents the Virgin enthroned, with the Divine Infant standing upright on her knee. They are surrounded by eight Angels, two of whom offer gifts to the Child, while two are sounding the lute and psaltery with infinite grace of action. The colouring of this work is clear and brilliant, as Vasari describes that of this master to be, the style of the drawing is pure, and the whole work is executed in a firm, energetic manner, giving evidence of more ability in the artist, than he would be Inferred to possess from the few words of Vasari. Beneath is the following inscription:—
“alvaro. pires. d. evora. pintor. ”
A very fine work of Taddeo Bartoli, unmentioned by the writers of his hie, If still to be seen over the central door of the cathedral at Montepulciano. It is a large triptych, and the following inscription may still be deciphered:—
“thadeus bartoli de senis depin [xit].... questa opera al tempo di messer.....
