DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.57409#0329
LIVES OF THE ARTISTS.-—JACOPO DELLA QUERCIA. 313
of this Second Part, and, following the order of the different
manners, I will gradually proceed to lay open and elucidate,
in the lives themselves, the difficulties of these beautiful,
laborious, and most honourable arts.
THE SIENESE SCULPTOR, JACOPO DELLA QUERCIA.
[born 1374?—died 1438. J
The sculptor Jacopo, son of Maestro Piero di Filippo of
Quercia, a place in the neighbourhood of Siena, was the first
-—after Andrea Pisano, Orgagna, and the other masters above
named—who, devoting himself to sculpture with a more ear-
nest study, began to show that a near approach might be
made to Nature herself; and it was from him that other
artists first took courage to hope that it was possible, in a cer-
tain measure, to equal her works. The first labours of this
master which require to be mentioned, were executed in
Siena, when he was but nineteen years old, and the occasion
was as follows:—The Sienese army, then in action against
the Florentines, was commanded by Gian Tedesco, nephew
of Saccone da Pietramala, and by Giovanni d’Azzo Ubaldini,
when the latter general fell sick in the camp; he was con-
sequently brought to Siena, where he died. The Sienese
deeply lamented the loss of their captain, whom they honoured
with a most superb and solemn funeral; they caused an edi-
fice of wood-work to be constructed, in form of a pyramid,
on the summit of which was placed a statue of Giovanni on
horseback, larger than life, which was executed by Jacopo.
This work displayed considerable judgment, as well as fer-
tility of invention ; Jacopo having discovered a method of
proceeding which had not before been in use : he formed
the skeleton and body of the horse, namely, from pieces of
wood and small planks, which were afterwards swathed and
wrapped with hay, tow, and hemp, being well bound and
secured with ropes, when all was covered with clay mixed
with a cement formed of paste, glue, and the shearings of
woollen cloth. This mode of treatment certainly was, and
of this Second Part, and, following the order of the different
manners, I will gradually proceed to lay open and elucidate,
in the lives themselves, the difficulties of these beautiful,
laborious, and most honourable arts.
THE SIENESE SCULPTOR, JACOPO DELLA QUERCIA.
[born 1374?—died 1438. J
The sculptor Jacopo, son of Maestro Piero di Filippo of
Quercia, a place in the neighbourhood of Siena, was the first
-—after Andrea Pisano, Orgagna, and the other masters above
named—who, devoting himself to sculpture with a more ear-
nest study, began to show that a near approach might be
made to Nature herself; and it was from him that other
artists first took courage to hope that it was possible, in a cer-
tain measure, to equal her works. The first labours of this
master which require to be mentioned, were executed in
Siena, when he was but nineteen years old, and the occasion
was as follows:—The Sienese army, then in action against
the Florentines, was commanded by Gian Tedesco, nephew
of Saccone da Pietramala, and by Giovanni d’Azzo Ubaldini,
when the latter general fell sick in the camp; he was con-
sequently brought to Siena, where he died. The Sienese
deeply lamented the loss of their captain, whom they honoured
with a most superb and solemn funeral; they caused an edi-
fice of wood-work to be constructed, in form of a pyramid,
on the summit of which was placed a statue of Giovanni on
horseback, larger than life, which was executed by Jacopo.
This work displayed considerable judgment, as well as fer-
tility of invention ; Jacopo having discovered a method of
proceeding which had not before been in use : he formed
the skeleton and body of the horse, namely, from pieces of
wood and small planks, which were afterwards swathed and
wrapped with hay, tow, and hemp, being well bound and
secured with ropes, when all was covered with clay mixed
with a cement formed of paste, glue, and the shearings of
woollen cloth. This mode of treatment certainly was, and