church of Santa Chiara, in Urbino, and this, for a simple and far from costly work, has proved to be a very handsome one.
The Venetian painter Battista Franco,[1] was invited to Urbino by Girolamo Genga, and was by him selected to paint the principal chapel of the cathedral, at the time when the decorations of the organ in that church were in course of progress, after Girolamo’s designs. This last-mentioned work is not yet completed.
At a subsequent period, the Cardinal of Mantua wrote to the Duke, with a request that Girolamo might be sent to him, seeing that he desired to have his episcopal palace in that city set in order; our artist proceeded to Mantua accordingly, when he restored the building, effectually providing it with suitable windows, and whatever else the prelate above-named desired to have done therein. The Cardinal likewise proposed to have a new and beautiful façade erected for the same cathedral, when Girolamo was commanded to prepare the model for the work; and this he did in such a manner, that he may truly be said to have surpassed all the architectural productions of his time, since he has here exhibited grandeur, beauty of proportion, and the graces of ornament in equal perfection.
Having then returned to Urbino, and being somewhat advanced in years, Girolamo went to reside at a villa which he possessed in the territory of Urbino, and which was called La Valle, there to enjoy his repose and the results of his many labours. But while there, and that he might not remain idle, he delineated a story in red chalk, the subject of which was the Conversion of St. Paul, the figures and horses of this work are in considerable numbers and of rather large size; and Girolamo completed it with so much care and patience, that more could neither be imagined nor described, as may be seen by examination of the work, which is in the possession of his heirs, who preserve it as a most precious and highly valued production.[2]
- ↑ Battista Franco, named II Semolei, whom Lanzi calls “a Venetian by his birth, but a Florentine by his style he died in the year 1561.
- ↑ Speaking of this master, Lanzi, Storia Pittorica, has a remark to the effect, that although Luca Signorelli was the first to enlarge the prevailing style, yet that Genga must be allowed to have surpassed him. He adds,
