DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.1397#0092
PLATE 23.
A PAINTED GLASS WINDOW,
BY G. BERTINI, MILAN.
OF ^11 the examples of stained and painted glass in the Exhibition, Bertini's -window, about
three feet in width, was certainly pre-eminent for drawing, expression, and general harmony
of effect. It was placed in a very unfavourable position for light; but even in a bright light,
it would have been low and subdued in tone, comparing it with the productions of other
exhibitors. " The Madonna and Child of Bertini, in 1862," writes the reporter of the Inter-
national Jury, Class 34, "may be considered as one of the gems of the Exhibition;" an opinion
we endorse with pleasure; and the medal for general excellence of design, colour, and execution,
was fully merited by M. Bertini, whose Dante window, in 1851, was also one of the. finest
pieces exhibited.
The numerous and beautiful remains in Italy are almost all of a pictorial nature, and were
frequently designed by celebrated artists. Some of the earliest authentic notices we have of
glass-painters in Italy occur during the 14th century, in Marchese's " Vite de' Pittori, etc.;" viz.,
the Dominican Fra Giacomo di Andrea, of Florence; Era Domenico Pollini, who lived at Pisa in
the first half of this century; Era Michele Pina, of Pisa, who died in 1340; Jacopo Castelli, of
Siena, who painted a window in the church of San Francesco, Pisa, in 1390. In the eaidy part
of the 15th century Ambrogio di Bindo, a Dominican, was famed for glass-painting; Angiolotto
da Gubbio was employed at the cathedrals of Orvieto, Siena, and Assisi; Fra Bartolommeo, of
Perugia, executed a fine window in the church of San Domenico at Perugia; but the most
distinguished artist in glass was Beato Giacomo da TJlmo, a German, whose principal works
were done at Bologna from about 1464 to 1480. In the Duomo at Florence, Ghiberti and
Donatello furnished drawings for windows, executed by Domenico Livi da Gambassi, about the
year 1434. Livi is stated by Baldinucci to have learnt the art at Lubeck. Be that as it may,
glass for this purpose was also manufactured at an earlier period in Florence itself, as is proved
by an inscription on a window (Pointed style) in Santa Croce:— " Hoc opus fecit frater
Gherardini da vitro di Florentia."
The magnificent windows of the apse in Lucca Cathedral are inscribed with the name
of TJgolino da Pisa, A.D. 1433. The richly-coloured windows of S. M. Novella, Florence, were
executed by Alessandro Fiorentino in the year 1491. Indeed, central Italy is rich in examples
of stained glass, which deserve more attention than they have yet received. Amongst the most
remarkable works are the very rich early Florentine windows of Or San Michele, the Gothic
windows of Santa Croce, and the windows of the cathedral, Florence. In the 16th century
the most celebrated master in this art was the prior Guillelmo do Marcillat, whose principal
works were executed at Arezzo in 1520. He died in 1537, leaving several pupils; amongst
whom were Pastorino da Siena, Maso Porro, of Cortona, and Battista Borro, of Arezzo. At
Siena is still preserved the great wheel window of the cathedral, designed by Perino del Vaga,
and executed by Pastorino, of Siena, A.D. 1549. Among other good examples are the windows
of the cathedrals of Pisa, Lucca, Prato, and Arezzo; the fine windows in San Domenico,
Perugia, and in the church of St. Francis at Assisi. The art also flourished in the north, and
Lanzi states that a window was put up in the church of San Giovanni and Paolo, at Yenice,
designed by the painter Bartolommeo Vivarini. Yivarini's colour, as seen in his paintings,
though deep, is somewhat sombre, and the works we have enumerated bear a much closer
resemblance in tone to the rich and harmonious colouring of the early Venetian masters, Cima
da Conegliano, Marco Basaiti, and Carpaccio. Michelangelo Urbani of Cortona, Valerio
Profondavalle of Milan, and G. 0. Frisio of Bologna, were also noted for their works on glass.
George and Walter (Flemings) introduced the richer style in vogue during the 16th and 17th
centuries in Flanders, such as we still see it to have been in the stained glass of St. Gudule,
Brussels, and the magnificent series at Gouda, dating from 1553 to 1603 A.D., designed and
executed by Dirk and Walter Crabeth, Adrian de Vries, and others.
A PAINTED GLASS WINDOW,
BY G. BERTINI, MILAN.
OF ^11 the examples of stained and painted glass in the Exhibition, Bertini's -window, about
three feet in width, was certainly pre-eminent for drawing, expression, and general harmony
of effect. It was placed in a very unfavourable position for light; but even in a bright light,
it would have been low and subdued in tone, comparing it with the productions of other
exhibitors. " The Madonna and Child of Bertini, in 1862," writes the reporter of the Inter-
national Jury, Class 34, "may be considered as one of the gems of the Exhibition;" an opinion
we endorse with pleasure; and the medal for general excellence of design, colour, and execution,
was fully merited by M. Bertini, whose Dante window, in 1851, was also one of the. finest
pieces exhibited.
The numerous and beautiful remains in Italy are almost all of a pictorial nature, and were
frequently designed by celebrated artists. Some of the earliest authentic notices we have of
glass-painters in Italy occur during the 14th century, in Marchese's " Vite de' Pittori, etc.;" viz.,
the Dominican Fra Giacomo di Andrea, of Florence; Era Domenico Pollini, who lived at Pisa in
the first half of this century; Era Michele Pina, of Pisa, who died in 1340; Jacopo Castelli, of
Siena, who painted a window in the church of San Francesco, Pisa, in 1390. In the eaidy part
of the 15th century Ambrogio di Bindo, a Dominican, was famed for glass-painting; Angiolotto
da Gubbio was employed at the cathedrals of Orvieto, Siena, and Assisi; Fra Bartolommeo, of
Perugia, executed a fine window in the church of San Domenico at Perugia; but the most
distinguished artist in glass was Beato Giacomo da TJlmo, a German, whose principal works
were done at Bologna from about 1464 to 1480. In the Duomo at Florence, Ghiberti and
Donatello furnished drawings for windows, executed by Domenico Livi da Gambassi, about the
year 1434. Livi is stated by Baldinucci to have learnt the art at Lubeck. Be that as it may,
glass for this purpose was also manufactured at an earlier period in Florence itself, as is proved
by an inscription on a window (Pointed style) in Santa Croce:— " Hoc opus fecit frater
Gherardini da vitro di Florentia."
The magnificent windows of the apse in Lucca Cathedral are inscribed with the name
of TJgolino da Pisa, A.D. 1433. The richly-coloured windows of S. M. Novella, Florence, were
executed by Alessandro Fiorentino in the year 1491. Indeed, central Italy is rich in examples
of stained glass, which deserve more attention than they have yet received. Amongst the most
remarkable works are the very rich early Florentine windows of Or San Michele, the Gothic
windows of Santa Croce, and the windows of the cathedral, Florence. In the 16th century
the most celebrated master in this art was the prior Guillelmo do Marcillat, whose principal
works were executed at Arezzo in 1520. He died in 1537, leaving several pupils; amongst
whom were Pastorino da Siena, Maso Porro, of Cortona, and Battista Borro, of Arezzo. At
Siena is still preserved the great wheel window of the cathedral, designed by Perino del Vaga,
and executed by Pastorino, of Siena, A.D. 1549. Among other good examples are the windows
of the cathedrals of Pisa, Lucca, Prato, and Arezzo; the fine windows in San Domenico,
Perugia, and in the church of St. Francis at Assisi. The art also flourished in the north, and
Lanzi states that a window was put up in the church of San Giovanni and Paolo, at Yenice,
designed by the painter Bartolommeo Vivarini. Yivarini's colour, as seen in his paintings,
though deep, is somewhat sombre, and the works we have enumerated bear a much closer
resemblance in tone to the rich and harmonious colouring of the early Venetian masters, Cima
da Conegliano, Marco Basaiti, and Carpaccio. Michelangelo Urbani of Cortona, Valerio
Profondavalle of Milan, and G. 0. Frisio of Bologna, were also noted for their works on glass.
George and Walter (Flemings) introduced the richer style in vogue during the 16th and 17th
centuries in Flanders, such as we still see it to have been in the stained glass of St. Gudule,
Brussels, and the magnificent series at Gouda, dating from 1553 to 1603 A.D., designed and
executed by Dirk and Walter Crabeth, Adrian de Vries, and others.