DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42861#0430
386 CRITICISM OF THE PORTRAIT
than nature ever made us, so that we thank you with
all our heart, and as soon as we can find a trusty
messenger we will pay the debt which we owe you,
without speaking of the obligation under which we
shall always remain to you.”
But although the beauty of Francia’s picture was
undeniable, the critical Marchesa was not altogether
satisfied with the likeness. The eyes, she thought,
were decidedly too black, and she asked Lucrezia if
the painter could not make them lighter. Neither
the princess nor the artist, however, approved of this
suggestion, as Lucrezia explained in a letter written
on the 9th of December. “ Il Francia, our painter,
seems to be in heaven, so full of delight is he to
hear that his portrait has pleased Your Excellency—
still more, to hear you say that his art has made
you more beautiful than nature. It would, as he
owns, be too great arrogance for the art of painting
to claim superiority over nature; none the less, he
is by no means displeased to receive so great a
compliment from such a lady! As to changing the
eyes from dark to light, the result would be doubtful,
and he would reluctantly run the risk of spoiling
what is good in the picture, and of exchanging a
certain for an uncertain advantage. It would be
necessary to alter the shadows of the picture to suit
the colour of the eyes, and then it would have to
be varnished over again, and if the eyes were a little
damaged by this operation, the picture would lose
all its charm. None the less, if you were here
to sit to him, he would do his best to please Your
Excellency, whom he will be ever ready to oblige;
nor would I be slow to undertake whatever com-
mands you give, great or small, saying, as Eolus did,
than nature ever made us, so that we thank you with
all our heart, and as soon as we can find a trusty
messenger we will pay the debt which we owe you,
without speaking of the obligation under which we
shall always remain to you.”
But although the beauty of Francia’s picture was
undeniable, the critical Marchesa was not altogether
satisfied with the likeness. The eyes, she thought,
were decidedly too black, and she asked Lucrezia if
the painter could not make them lighter. Neither
the princess nor the artist, however, approved of this
suggestion, as Lucrezia explained in a letter written
on the 9th of December. “ Il Francia, our painter,
seems to be in heaven, so full of delight is he to
hear that his portrait has pleased Your Excellency—
still more, to hear you say that his art has made
you more beautiful than nature. It would, as he
owns, be too great arrogance for the art of painting
to claim superiority over nature; none the less, he
is by no means displeased to receive so great a
compliment from such a lady! As to changing the
eyes from dark to light, the result would be doubtful,
and he would reluctantly run the risk of spoiling
what is good in the picture, and of exchanging a
certain for an uncertain advantage. It would be
necessary to alter the shadows of the picture to suit
the colour of the eyes, and then it would have to
be varnished over again, and if the eyes were a little
damaged by this operation, the picture would lose
all its charm. None the less, if you were here
to sit to him, he would do his best to please Your
Excellency, whom he will be ever ready to oblige;
nor would I be slow to undertake whatever com-
mands you give, great or small, saying, as Eolus did,