DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0401
MANTEGNA’S ILLNESS
359
all that you do for him with M. Andrea, by helping
on your business with M. Zuan Bellini, over whom
he has great influence, and will, as well as myself,
remain most deeply obliged to Your Most Illus-
trious Excellency.”1
The picture in question was the noble Triumph of
Scipio, now in the National Gallery, which was still
in Mantegna’s shop at the time of his death, eight
months later.
Isabella replied to this letter of Bembo on the
31st of January: “We are delighted to hear that
Bellini is going to do the picture, and recognise
that this is owing to Your Magnificence. We will
find out the particulars of the size and the lighting,
and will send them to you, together with the earnest
money. Meanwhile we beg you earnestly to settle
the subject with the painter. M. Andrea Mantegna
has been very dangerously ill these last days. He is
very near his end, and although just now he is a little
better, it is impossible to speak to him of pictures, or
of anything but his health. If he recovers we will
see that the Magnificent Francesco Cornelio receives
satisfaction.”2
But a series of unexpected interruptions interfered
with the execution of Isabella’s plans. In March, she
paid her first visit to Florence, and the sudden out-
break of plague on her return compelled her to leave
Mantua in haste and take refuge with her children
and servants in her villa of Sacchetta. On the 11th
of May,3 she wrote to Bembo, regretting that owing
to her hurried departure from the Castello, and the
disturbance caused by this terrible visitation, she had
1 Gaye, op. cit., pp. 71-73. 2 Yriarte, op. cit.
3 V. Cian in Giorn. St. d. Lett. It., vol. ix.
359
all that you do for him with M. Andrea, by helping
on your business with M. Zuan Bellini, over whom
he has great influence, and will, as well as myself,
remain most deeply obliged to Your Most Illus-
trious Excellency.”1
The picture in question was the noble Triumph of
Scipio, now in the National Gallery, which was still
in Mantegna’s shop at the time of his death, eight
months later.
Isabella replied to this letter of Bembo on the
31st of January: “We are delighted to hear that
Bellini is going to do the picture, and recognise
that this is owing to Your Magnificence. We will
find out the particulars of the size and the lighting,
and will send them to you, together with the earnest
money. Meanwhile we beg you earnestly to settle
the subject with the painter. M. Andrea Mantegna
has been very dangerously ill these last days. He is
very near his end, and although just now he is a little
better, it is impossible to speak to him of pictures, or
of anything but his health. If he recovers we will
see that the Magnificent Francesco Cornelio receives
satisfaction.”2
But a series of unexpected interruptions interfered
with the execution of Isabella’s plans. In March, she
paid her first visit to Florence, and the sudden out-
break of plague on her return compelled her to leave
Mantua in haste and take refuge with her children
and servants in her villa of Sacchetta. On the 11th
of May,3 she wrote to Bembo, regretting that owing
to her hurried departure from the Castello, and the
disturbance caused by this terrible visitation, she had
1 Gaye, op. cit., pp. 71-73. 2 Yriarte, op. cit.
3 V. Cian in Giorn. St. d. Lett. It., vol. ix.