DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.7597#0328
CHAP. IV.]
MASO FINIGUERRA.
295
" to tell me if you have seen any print by him; since it is impossible
" that such things should not be found at Florence where he
" worked. I cannot at all understand Vasari in that part where
" he relates the manner of the discovery. You will oblige me very
" much by assisting me to render that passage of his book more
" intelligible."* In another letter to the same gentleman, dated
Jan. 1732, he says, " I am better informed than any one as to the
" rich collection of prints made by the Prince Eugene, since I
" arranged and made an ample catalogue of them. There is cer-
" tainly nothing among them by Maso Finiguerra; nor in the
" collection of the king, which is an extremely fine one, and,
" especially, rich in prints engraved by the ancient masters.
" I know, indeed, of one print, representing Hercules killing the
" serpent, upon which are these letters, 1. F. T.,f which, taken the
« reverse way, might be read thus,—Thomas Finiguerra incidit;
" but I am not satisfied with such a conjecture; whereas I have
« prints by old German masters, very well known, with very
" ancient dates, concerning the authenticity of which there is no
" doubt. In the mean time I will suspend my judgment, and shall
" be most happy if, in the ancient collections of prints of which
" you tell me, you happen to meet with something certain, that may
" oppose my opinion, and confirm the assertion of Vasari."+
In Oct. 1732, Gaburri writes from Florence a very long letter in
answer to Mariette's numerous inquiries. What he says upon the
subject in question is as follows:—" The delay of my letter is in
" consequence of my most earnest desire to give you a decided
" answer to the various questions which, at different periods, you
" have done me the honour of putting to me concerning our Maso
" Finiguerra of Florence, the inventor of copper-plate engraving,
* " Lettere sulla Pittura," &c. torn. ii. print in a subsequent page,
pp. 230. 231. % " Lettere sulla Pittura," torn. ii. pp.
f Further mention will be made of this 263. 264.
MASO FINIGUERRA.
295
" to tell me if you have seen any print by him; since it is impossible
" that such things should not be found at Florence where he
" worked. I cannot at all understand Vasari in that part where
" he relates the manner of the discovery. You will oblige me very
" much by assisting me to render that passage of his book more
" intelligible."* In another letter to the same gentleman, dated
Jan. 1732, he says, " I am better informed than any one as to the
" rich collection of prints made by the Prince Eugene, since I
" arranged and made an ample catalogue of them. There is cer-
" tainly nothing among them by Maso Finiguerra; nor in the
" collection of the king, which is an extremely fine one, and,
" especially, rich in prints engraved by the ancient masters.
" I know, indeed, of one print, representing Hercules killing the
" serpent, upon which are these letters, 1. F. T.,f which, taken the
« reverse way, might be read thus,—Thomas Finiguerra incidit;
" but I am not satisfied with such a conjecture; whereas I have
« prints by old German masters, very well known, with very
" ancient dates, concerning the authenticity of which there is no
" doubt. In the mean time I will suspend my judgment, and shall
" be most happy if, in the ancient collections of prints of which
" you tell me, you happen to meet with something certain, that may
" oppose my opinion, and confirm the assertion of Vasari."+
In Oct. 1732, Gaburri writes from Florence a very long letter in
answer to Mariette's numerous inquiries. What he says upon the
subject in question is as follows:—" The delay of my letter is in
" consequence of my most earnest desire to give you a decided
" answer to the various questions which, at different periods, you
" have done me the honour of putting to me concerning our Maso
" Finiguerra of Florence, the inventor of copper-plate engraving,
* " Lettere sulla Pittura," &c. torn. ii. print in a subsequent page,
pp. 230. 231. % " Lettere sulla Pittura," torn. ii. pp.
f Further mention will be made of this 263. 264.