For the palace of the Medici, Benozzo Gozzoli painted the chapel in fresco, the subject chosen being the story of the Magi;[1] and in Rome he painted stories from the life of St. Anthony of Padua in the chapel of the Cesarini family, in the church of Ara Coeli: in this work are the portraits of the Cardinal Giuliano, Cesarini, and of Antonio Colonna, both taken from the life. In the Torre de’ Conti also, over the gate of entrance that is, Benozzo painted a fresco, wherein he depicted Our Lady with numerous saints; and in Santa Maria Maggiore, in a chapel on the right hand as you enter by the principal door, he painted various figures in fresco, which are tolerably well done.[2]
Having returned from Rome to Florence, Benozzo next repaired to Pisa,[3] where he worked in the cemetery beside the cathedral, which is called the Campo Santo, painting the decorations of a wall which runs the whole length of the building, and on which he depicted stories from the Old Testament, wherein he displayed much power of invention. This work may be truly called a most formidable undertaking, the artist having represented the whole creation of the world day by day:[4] after which follows the Flood, with the Ark of Koah; pictures which are very finely composed, and exhibit a great variety of figures. Near this is the proud building of the Tower of Nimrod, the burning of Sodom and the neighbouring cities, with stories from the life of Abraham, in which there are many parts admirably expressed, and worthy of much consideration. For although it is true that Benozzo possessed no very distinguished talent in drawing figures, yet in this work, in the Sacrifice of Isaac more particularly, he has nevertheless exhibited considerable
- ↑ These works remain; and in the year 1837, the window which gives light to the chapel was enlarged, when the paintings, which had previously been lost in darkness, were rendered visible. On this occasion they were carefully restored by the Professor Antonio Marini.— Ed. Flor. 1849.
- ↑ Destroyed in successive embellishments of the church.
- ↑ In the year 1468, further details will be found in Rumohr: Italienische Forschungen, vol. ii.
- ↑ The stories painted in the Campo Santo of Pisa, by Benozzo Gozzoli, are twenty-four, all of which, with those of earlier masters than himself, were engraved by the elder Lasinio, and published in 1810, with illustrations by Rosini and Rossi. There is a second edition, of a smaller size, published by the younger Lasinio, in 1832.
