DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51584#0214
210
EAKLY ITALIAN PAINTERS.
native city, but Parma, Modena, Cesena, and Fer-
rara, were emulous to possess his works. Even
Tuscany, so rich in painters of her own, had heard
of Francia. The beautiful altar-piece which has
enriched our National Gallery since the year 1841,
was painted at the desire of a nobleman of Lucca.
This altar-piece is composed of two separate
pictures. The larger compartment contains eight
figures rather less than life. In the centre on a
raised throne are seated the Virgin and her mother
St. Anne. The Virgin is attired in a red tunic
and a dark blue mantle which is drawn over the
head. She holds in her lap the Infant Christ, to
whom St. Anne is presenting a peach. The ex-
pression of the Virgin is exceedingly pure, calm,
and saintly, yet without the seraph-like refinement
which we see in some of Raphael’s Madonnas : the
head of the aged St. Anne is simply dignified and
maternal. At the foot of the throne stands the
little St. John, holding in his arms the cross of
reeds and the scroll inscribed “ Ecce Agnus Dei
(Behold the Lamb of God I)” On each side of
the throne are two saints. To the right of the
Virgin stands St. Paul holding a sword, the instru-
ment of his martyrdom; and St. Sebastian bound
to a pillar and pierced with arrows. On the left,
St. Lawrence with the emblematical gridiron and
palm-branch, and another saint, probably St. Fre-
diano. The heads of these saints want elevation
EAKLY ITALIAN PAINTERS.
native city, but Parma, Modena, Cesena, and Fer-
rara, were emulous to possess his works. Even
Tuscany, so rich in painters of her own, had heard
of Francia. The beautiful altar-piece which has
enriched our National Gallery since the year 1841,
was painted at the desire of a nobleman of Lucca.
This altar-piece is composed of two separate
pictures. The larger compartment contains eight
figures rather less than life. In the centre on a
raised throne are seated the Virgin and her mother
St. Anne. The Virgin is attired in a red tunic
and a dark blue mantle which is drawn over the
head. She holds in her lap the Infant Christ, to
whom St. Anne is presenting a peach. The ex-
pression of the Virgin is exceedingly pure, calm,
and saintly, yet without the seraph-like refinement
which we see in some of Raphael’s Madonnas : the
head of the aged St. Anne is simply dignified and
maternal. At the foot of the throne stands the
little St. John, holding in his arms the cross of
reeds and the scroll inscribed “ Ecce Agnus Dei
(Behold the Lamb of God I)” On each side of
the throne are two saints. To the right of the
Virgin stands St. Paul holding a sword, the instru-
ment of his martyrdom; and St. Sebastian bound
to a pillar and pierced with arrows. On the left,
St. Lawrence with the emblematical gridiron and
palm-branch, and another saint, probably St. Fre-
diano. The heads of these saints want elevation