DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.61252#0176
132
THE BRIDGEWATER GALLERY.
which was sold at Madrid in 1823. Purchased by Lord
Francis Egerton.*
124 Head of Velasquez.f—Extremely fine.
VERNET (Claude Joseph), b. at Avignon, 1714; d. at Paris, 1789.
[This French painter of landscape and sea views, studied for 20
years at Rome, and was a scholar of Lucatelli, whom he far sur-
passed. His compositions are often full of poetical feeling, and his
views from nature true and beautiful in the effects of light and
air; but he is apt to be heavy and cold in colour, and somewhat
theatrical and conventional in his design and mode of treatment.
His ships, too, are not constructed with the scientific correctness of
the Dutch marine painters.]
125 A Storm.—View from the shore, looking seaward, during
a violent tempest, and shipwrecked figures in front; a castle
on a lofty rock in the distance. It is too much like a got-
up scene. C. 3 ft. 2J in. by 4 ft. 5 in.
126 A Calm.—A view of the coast of Naples, with fisher-
men and other figures; a calm misty morning.
C. 2 ft. 21 in. by 4 ft. 5 in.
ZUCCARO (Federigo), b. about 1543; d. 1609.f
[The two Zuccari were second-rate painters of the Roman school,
of versatile talent, but no great elevation of genius. Federigo was
* The story of Don Henry Philip de Guzman, son of the famous minister of
Spain, is related towards the end of “ Gil Blas,” (B. xii.) We are there told
how the Count-Duke suddenly adopts the uneducated and hitherto neglected
boy, and obtains for him the order of Alcantara : how Gil Blas sends for a tutor,
tailor, dancing-master, &c.; and Velasquez, though not mentioned by Gil Blas,
would naturally be employed to paint the portrait of the newly adopted son. I
have mentioned elsewhere the friendship of Olivarez for the noble painter, and
the devotion of the latter to his patron, a devotion which was proved in the dis-
grace as well as hi the prosperity of the minister. The figure in this picture
is that of a youth of 18 or 19, the countenance grave, with nothing in the ex-
pression or air which bespeaks the parvenu. Gil Blas tells us that though the
youth could scarcely read or write, “ Il semblait avoir toujours ete ce qu’il
etait devenu par hazard.” Olivarez was disgraced and banished soon after, and
we hear no more of the young Don Henry, which may perhaps account for the
unfinished state of the picture.
t A fine head of Velasquez, and a head of the Duke d’Olivarez, are in the
collection of Lord Lansdowne, which see.
i According to Lanzi, and the best authorities.
THE BRIDGEWATER GALLERY.
which was sold at Madrid in 1823. Purchased by Lord
Francis Egerton.*
124 Head of Velasquez.f—Extremely fine.
VERNET (Claude Joseph), b. at Avignon, 1714; d. at Paris, 1789.
[This French painter of landscape and sea views, studied for 20
years at Rome, and was a scholar of Lucatelli, whom he far sur-
passed. His compositions are often full of poetical feeling, and his
views from nature true and beautiful in the effects of light and
air; but he is apt to be heavy and cold in colour, and somewhat
theatrical and conventional in his design and mode of treatment.
His ships, too, are not constructed with the scientific correctness of
the Dutch marine painters.]
125 A Storm.—View from the shore, looking seaward, during
a violent tempest, and shipwrecked figures in front; a castle
on a lofty rock in the distance. It is too much like a got-
up scene. C. 3 ft. 2J in. by 4 ft. 5 in.
126 A Calm.—A view of the coast of Naples, with fisher-
men and other figures; a calm misty morning.
C. 2 ft. 21 in. by 4 ft. 5 in.
ZUCCARO (Federigo), b. about 1543; d. 1609.f
[The two Zuccari were second-rate painters of the Roman school,
of versatile talent, but no great elevation of genius. Federigo was
* The story of Don Henry Philip de Guzman, son of the famous minister of
Spain, is related towards the end of “ Gil Blas,” (B. xii.) We are there told
how the Count-Duke suddenly adopts the uneducated and hitherto neglected
boy, and obtains for him the order of Alcantara : how Gil Blas sends for a tutor,
tailor, dancing-master, &c.; and Velasquez, though not mentioned by Gil Blas,
would naturally be employed to paint the portrait of the newly adopted son. I
have mentioned elsewhere the friendship of Olivarez for the noble painter, and
the devotion of the latter to his patron, a devotion which was proved in the dis-
grace as well as hi the prosperity of the minister. The figure in this picture
is that of a youth of 18 or 19, the countenance grave, with nothing in the ex-
pression or air which bespeaks the parvenu. Gil Blas tells us that though the
youth could scarcely read or write, “ Il semblait avoir toujours ete ce qu’il
etait devenu par hazard.” Olivarez was disgraced and banished soon after, and
we hear no more of the young Don Henry, which may perhaps account for the
unfinished state of the picture.
t A fine head of Velasquez, and a head of the Duke d’Olivarez, are in the
collection of Lord Lansdowne, which see.
i According to Lanzi, and the best authorities.