Studio: international art (29.1903)

Reviews

fig. 4

fc on an outworn theme, but a vivid realisa-

Eft tion of a drama of enthralling fascination,

in which the actors live and move as if
Stlfli their final fates were still uncertain, and
mS&k the verdict on their actions had not yet
iw8| been given. As the author points out,
IgjSfiB Isabella d'Este, like her sister Beatrice,
/ whose story has been graphically told by

sSZjlgBa the same writer, was "a typical child of
'vH$f/j the Renaissance, and her thoughts and
actions faithfully reflected the best tradi-
tions of her day." Blameless in her private
life, a faithful wife and a most devoted
mother, she exercised a very salutary
influence on contemporary society, whilst
her close connection with the reigning
family of the great Italian States, gave
her a position of exceptional importance.
It was, however, above all, as a patroness
of art and letters that her name will be longest
remembered; for she knew how to secure the
best work of the best men in every branch of
culture, and the letters to and from those who
honoured her by accepting her commissions are
historical documents of priceless value. She sat
for her portrait to Leonardo da Vinci, Giovanni
Santi, Andrea Mantegna, and Francesco Francia,
and the masterpieces of Michael Angelo, Perugino,
and Correggio adorned her rooms. She knew the
young Raphael when he was painting his first
pictures at Urbino, and was the guest of Pope
Leo X. in 1518 when his portrait, now in the Pitti
Gallery, was being painted. In a word, Isabella

j . • j iV. t . ,-r- j .1 d'Este was thoroughly in touch with all the master

art: and to induce others, better qualified than . „

., . . spirits of the day, and this exhaustive account of

myself, to contribute to your columns further , ,. ... ,, ,

her life will be a mine of wealth to all future

FIG. 5

students of the Renaissance.

REVIEWS.

information upon the subject.

Yours truly,

Traveller Beginning of the World. Twenty-five pic-
tures by Sir Edward Burne-Jones. (London :
Longmans, Green & Co.) js. 6d. net.—Only a
fragment, but a most charming fragment, of what,

Isabella d'Este. By Julia Cartwright. had its author lived long enough to complete it,

(London: John Murray.) Two volumes, 25i-.net. would have been one of the most beautiful

—Written in the easy, graceful style for which its illustrated Bibles ever produced, this unpre-

authoress is noted, bearing on every page the tending little volume will be looked upon as a

stamp of conscientious research, and illustrated valuable heirloom by all admirers of Sir Edward

with a number of excellent reproductions of por- Burne-Jones. As is explained by his widow, the

traits and other works of art connected more designs in it were made for an edition of Mr.

or less directly with the d'Este family, this McKaiPs Biblia Innocentum, which was to have

biography of the greatest lady of the Renaissance been produced by the Kelmscott Press, and to

will be eagerly welcomed by all who are interested have contained upwards of 200 pictures. Many,

in that remarkable period of artistic and intel- says Lady Burne-Jones, were begun, but none

lectual activity. The two volumes are no mere quite finished. Those here given to the world

resume of the work of others, no dry dissertation were, however, so far advanced that it was found
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