Sketches of the History of Christian Art, Volume 2J. Murray, 1847 |
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according to Vasari admirable afterwards altar Andrea Andrea Pisano angels Antonio Apostles appears arch architect Arezzo artists Assisi attitudes Baptistery bas-reliefs beautiful Byzantine Campo Santo Cathedral chapel Christ Christian Cicognara Cimabue colouring compartment composition Croce Crucifix death door Duomo early engraved excellent executed expression façade father figures Florence Florentine fourteenth century Fra Angelico Francesco Francis frescoes genius Ghiberti Giacomo Giotteschi Giottesque Giottino Giotto Giovanni Giusto Gothic Architecture grace hand head heaven Italy King kneeling latter Loggia Lombard lunette Madonna Maria Masuccio merit mosaics Naples native nave Niccola Pisano noble Orcagna original Orsanmichele Padua painted painter peculiar picture Pietro Pisa Pisan school Pope preserved probably pupil represented resemblance right and left robe Rome Rosini round Saint sarcophagus Saviour Sculpture seated seen Siena Sienese Sienese school Spinello spirit stands Storia style Taddeo Gaddi tion tomb transept Tuscany Vasari Verona Virgin Vita wall
Popular passages
Page 229 - gainst his father's will, " His stripling choice : and he did make her his, " Before the spiritual court, by nuptial bonds, " And in his father's sight : from day to day " Then loved her more devoutly.
Page 102 - Shakspeare ; they stand alone and unapproachable, each on his distinct pinnacle of the temple of Christian song ; and yet neither of them can boast such extent and durability of influence, for whatever of highest excellence has been achieved in sculpture and painting, not in Italy only, but throughout Europe, has been in obedience to the impulse he primarily gave, and in following up the principle which he first struck out.
Page 102 - Niccola's peculiar praise is this,—that, in practice at least, if not in theory, he first established the principle that the study of nature, corrected by the ideal of the antique, and animated by the spirit of Christianity, personal and social, can alone lead to excellence in art, each of the three elements of human nature — Matter, Mind and Spirit — being thus brought into union and co-operation in the service of God, in due relative harmony and subordination.
Page 174 - The enthusiasm of the Florentines, when this portrait was discovered, resembled that of their ancestors when Borgo Allegri received its name from their rejoicings in sympathy with Cimabue. " L' abbiamo, il nostro poeta ! " was the universal cry, and for days afterwards the Bargello was thronged with a continuous succession of pilgrim visitors.
Page 214 - Whilst he thus spake, the little birds, marvellously commoved, began to spread their wings, stretch forth their necks, and open their beaks, attentively gazing upon him ; and he, glowing in the spirit, passed through the midst of them, and even touched them with his robe ; yet not one stirred from his place until the man of God gave them leave; when, with his blessing, and at the sign of the cross, they all flew away. These things saw his companions, who waited for him on the road ; to whom returning,...
Page 34 - Attesoché la somma prudenza di un popolo d'origine grande, sia di procedere negli affari suoi di modo, che dalle operazioni esteriori si riconosca non meno il savio che magnanimo suo operare, si ordina ad Arnolfo, capo maestro del nostro Comune, che faccia il modello o disegno della rinnovazione di S.
Page 213 - Drawing nigh to Bevagno, he came to a certain place where birds of different kinds were gathered together ; whom seeing, the man of God ran hastily to the spot, and, saluting them as if they had been his fellows in reason (while they all turned and bent their heads in attentive expectation), he admonished them, saying, ' Brother birds, greatly are ye bound to praise the Creator, who clotheth you with feathers, and giveth you wings to fly with, and a purer air to breathe, and who careth for you, who...
Page 202 - ... explanation. I have marked with an asterisk those which have been engraved in Ottley's " Specimens of the early Florentine School." 1. When St. Francis was still in his father's house, and in bondage to the •world, a half-witted simpleton, meeting him in the market-place of Assisi, took off his own garment, and spread it on the ground for him to walk over, prophesying that he was worthy of all honour, as one destined to greatness, and to the veneration of the faithful throughout the universe.1...
Page 223 - St. Francis was encountered by three maidens, in poor raiment, and exactly resembling each other in age and appearance, who saluted him with the words, ' Welcome, Lady Poverty,' and suddenly disappeared. The brethren not irrationally concluded that this apparition imported some mystery pertaining to St. Francis, and that by the three poor maidens were signified Chastity, Obedience, and Poverty, the beauty and sum of evangelical perfection : all of which shone with equal and • consummate lustre...
Page 280 - a pale but composed countenance ; his hands joined in prayer ; feature and attitude alike expressive and sublime. It is a daring and bold idea, and one only regrets that it has not been entirely wrought out in marble ; the drawing is somewhat hard, and the colouring paler than in the adjacent frescoes ; but in a subject like this, such a defect becomes a merit.