DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52800#0051
FLORENTINE SCHOOL.—michael angelo. 31
This picture was afterwards in the collection of
Henry Hope, Esq. and was sold at his sale in
1816 : it afterwards passed into Germany.
Although these two pictures carry the name of
M. Angelo in this catalogue, yet like many others
bearing the name of that great master, they are
no doubt by one or other of his scholars,—as Se-
bastian del Piombo, or Marcello Venusti.—Indeed
it is the opinion of the best connoisseurs, that there
is no oil picture of that great master now in ex-
istence, unless it be that in the Florentine gallery,
and this even, it is now said, has been lately dis-
covered to be painted in tempera. Many con-
noisseurs are however persuaded, that the small
picture formerly in the Cavalieri Palace of Rome,
and which was given by M. Angelo himself to his
friend the Cavalier Cavalieri, and always con-
sidered in Rome as by the hand of this great
man, is a true picture ; if any picture in oil of this
master does exist at this day. Mr. Ottley pos-
sesses several fine original drawings by M. Angelo,
studies for his great works, in fresco. From what
has been said, it is evident that this great master’s
works cannot be judged of out of Italy. It is in
fresco painting alone, that they are to be looked for.
In sculpture, M. Angelo comes nearest to the
ancient Greeks. The tomb of Pope Julius II. is
one of the highest efforts of genius; the figure of
Moses is sublime.
This picture was afterwards in the collection of
Henry Hope, Esq. and was sold at his sale in
1816 : it afterwards passed into Germany.
Although these two pictures carry the name of
M. Angelo in this catalogue, yet like many others
bearing the name of that great master, they are
no doubt by one or other of his scholars,—as Se-
bastian del Piombo, or Marcello Venusti.—Indeed
it is the opinion of the best connoisseurs, that there
is no oil picture of that great master now in ex-
istence, unless it be that in the Florentine gallery,
and this even, it is now said, has been lately dis-
covered to be painted in tempera. Many con-
noisseurs are however persuaded, that the small
picture formerly in the Cavalieri Palace of Rome,
and which was given by M. Angelo himself to his
friend the Cavalier Cavalieri, and always con-
sidered in Rome as by the hand of this great
man, is a true picture ; if any picture in oil of this
master does exist at this day. Mr. Ottley pos-
sesses several fine original drawings by M. Angelo,
studies for his great works, in fresco. From what
has been said, it is evident that this great master’s
works cannot be judged of out of Italy. It is in
fresco painting alone, that they are to be looked for.
In sculpture, M. Angelo comes nearest to the
ancient Greeks. The tomb of Pope Julius II. is
one of the highest efforts of genius; the figure of
Moses is sublime.