DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0253
BERNA.
237
many accidents to which all, from various causes, are liable,
often deprive us too early of those who might be most distin-
guished. Of this we have an instance in the hapless Sienese
painter Berna, who, although he died young, yet left so many
works, that we might easily believe his life to have been a
long one; and these works were of such a character, as to
impress on us the conviction that he would have been most
eminently distinguished if his death had not been so prema-
turely hastened. Among the works of this master remaining
in Siena are certain historical representations, in fresco,* in
two chapels of the church of Sant’ Agostino; there was, be-
sides, on one of the walls of the same church, the story of a
youth led to execution, than which it is not possible to con-
ceive a more perfect work: the pallor and dread of death
were depicted on his face with such truth and reality, that
for this only the artist would merit the highest praise; be-
side the youth was a monk, who was seeking to console the
sufferer, and whose attitude was very fine. The whole work, in
short, was so admirably executed, and the story so eloquently
told, that we clearly perceive the artist to have formed a
most vivid conception of the fearful circumstance he de-
scribes. He has represented it as it must needs be, full of
the bitterest agony, the most cruel terror; reproducing the
■whole so admirably with his pencil, that the scene itself,
taking place before one’s eyes, would scarcely awaken more
profound emotions. This work has unhappily been destroyed
“n our own day, the wall having been removed to make way
for the chapels, which have been constructed in that part of
the church.
In the city of Cortona, besides many works scattered about
in different parts of the same, Berna painted the greater part
of the walls and ceiling in the church of Santa Margarita,f
where is now the convent of the Franciscan monks, called
Zoccolanti.^ From Cortona he went to Arezzo, in the year
1369, and precisely at the moment when the Tarlati, who had
formerly been lords of Pietramala, had caused the convent
* These paintings have perished, as have those described immediately
after them.
t These pictures have perished.
f So called from Zoccolo, a wooden shoe, which the members of the
Franciscan order wear.
237
many accidents to which all, from various causes, are liable,
often deprive us too early of those who might be most distin-
guished. Of this we have an instance in the hapless Sienese
painter Berna, who, although he died young, yet left so many
works, that we might easily believe his life to have been a
long one; and these works were of such a character, as to
impress on us the conviction that he would have been most
eminently distinguished if his death had not been so prema-
turely hastened. Among the works of this master remaining
in Siena are certain historical representations, in fresco,* in
two chapels of the church of Sant’ Agostino; there was, be-
sides, on one of the walls of the same church, the story of a
youth led to execution, than which it is not possible to con-
ceive a more perfect work: the pallor and dread of death
were depicted on his face with such truth and reality, that
for this only the artist would merit the highest praise; be-
side the youth was a monk, who was seeking to console the
sufferer, and whose attitude was very fine. The whole work, in
short, was so admirably executed, and the story so eloquently
told, that we clearly perceive the artist to have formed a
most vivid conception of the fearful circumstance he de-
scribes. He has represented it as it must needs be, full of
the bitterest agony, the most cruel terror; reproducing the
■whole so admirably with his pencil, that the scene itself,
taking place before one’s eyes, would scarcely awaken more
profound emotions. This work has unhappily been destroyed
“n our own day, the wall having been removed to make way
for the chapels, which have been constructed in that part of
the church.
In the city of Cortona, besides many works scattered about
in different parts of the same, Berna painted the greater part
of the walls and ceiling in the church of Santa Margarita,f
where is now the convent of the Franciscan monks, called
Zoccolanti.^ From Cortona he went to Arezzo, in the year
1369, and precisely at the moment when the Tarlati, who had
formerly been lords of Pietramala, had caused the convent
* These paintings have perished, as have those described immediately
after them.
t These pictures have perished.
f So called from Zoccolo, a wooden shoe, which the members of the
Franciscan order wear.