DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.36839#0263
GIULIO ROMANO
288
at this court does not always proceed from your
ambassadors negligence.'^
The Abbatino also took charge of a line crossbow
which the Portuguese envoy was sending to the
Marquis, as well as of the embroidered trappings for
Federico's Arab horse, which had been ordered
months before, but which the Maestro, who was in
Castiglione's opinion as great a liar as Caradosso
himself, had never yet finished. A set of Spanish
hangings, embroidered with intricate devices, which
the Marquis had ordered for the decoration of a hall
in his new palace at Marmirolo, were at length com-
pleted by the end of August, and sent to Mantua, in
order that they might be hung up before the summer
was quite over.
Two artists are frequently mentioned in Cas-
tiglione's letters this summer. One was a Spanish
goldsmith named Guildam, who had left Mantua
owing to a quarrel with the court officials, but
whose rare talent had made him indispensable to
Federico. After much bargaining, Guildam con-
sented to return on payment of a salary of 800 ducats
and all expenses, and as a proof of his skill gave
the Count an exquisitely worked gold cross, which
he had been unable to finish before he left Mantua.
The other was Raphaels distinguished scholar, Giulio
Romano. Castiglione, as we have seen, had long
been endeavouring to bring this master, whose
services Federico was exceedingly anxious to secure,
to Mantua. On August 29 the Marquis wrote:
' The Abbatino tells us that Messer Giulio, the
painter, wishes to come here, and we have the
greatest possible anxiety to make use of his noble genius
i Serassi, 'Neg.,' i. 137.
288
at this court does not always proceed from your
ambassadors negligence.'^
The Abbatino also took charge of a line crossbow
which the Portuguese envoy was sending to the
Marquis, as well as of the embroidered trappings for
Federico's Arab horse, which had been ordered
months before, but which the Maestro, who was in
Castiglione's opinion as great a liar as Caradosso
himself, had never yet finished. A set of Spanish
hangings, embroidered with intricate devices, which
the Marquis had ordered for the decoration of a hall
in his new palace at Marmirolo, were at length com-
pleted by the end of August, and sent to Mantua, in
order that they might be hung up before the summer
was quite over.
Two artists are frequently mentioned in Cas-
tiglione's letters this summer. One was a Spanish
goldsmith named Guildam, who had left Mantua
owing to a quarrel with the court officials, but
whose rare talent had made him indispensable to
Federico. After much bargaining, Guildam con-
sented to return on payment of a salary of 800 ducats
and all expenses, and as a proof of his skill gave
the Count an exquisitely worked gold cross, which
he had been unable to finish before he left Mantua.
The other was Raphaels distinguished scholar, Giulio
Romano. Castiglione, as we have seen, had long
been endeavouring to bring this master, whose
services Federico was exceedingly anxious to secure,
to Mantua. On August 29 the Marquis wrote:
' The Abbatino tells us that Messer Giulio, the
painter, wishes to come here, and we have the
greatest possible anxiety to make use of his noble genius
i Serassi, 'Neg.,' i. 137.