NOTICE

OF

JONH LANFRANC.

John Lanfranc, whose name has been frenchified into that of Lanfranc, was born at Parma in 1581. He was Page to Count Scotti, and as he was continually drawing, was placed by that Nobleman in the study of Augustin Caracci,

who at that time worked at Parma.

Lanfranc also studied the paintings of Corregio. and at the death of his master, he went to Rome, where he assisted Annibal Caracci, who was at that time employed at the Farnese Gallery. This artist took advantage of his stay in Rome, to study Raffaelle and the antique, he did not however acquire any great degree of purity of design. His compositions are wast, noble, and of great effect, but his figures are often heavy, and his perspective which he increased expressly, prevent them from being agreeable. He possessed great facility in producing, but he had not the necessary patience to execute with judgment. Blaming the slowness of Domenichino, his rival, he executed his pictures with too much haste, and without taking sufficient time to consider his subject. Without being very correct, his colouring however, produced tolerable effect. Too much confined in a small frame, to judge properly of Lanfranc, it is necessary to have seen what is called « grandes machines in Italy, in which all the energy of his talent can be exhibited.

Lanfranc etched also; but it is perceptible, that in this branch also, he was too hasty. He died at Rome in 1657, at the age of 66, the same day that his painting was discovered, at the tribune of Saint Charles de Cattenari.

NOTICE

SUR

FRANÇOIS RAIBOLINI, DIT FRANCIA.

François Raibolini naquit à Bologne vers 1450. Quelques personnes le croient élève de André Mantegna, et prétendent aussi qu'il se fit remarquer comme graveur, mais on ne peut citer aucune planche gravée par lui. Ce qui est certain, c'est qu'il fut renommé par son talent dans l'orfévrerie. Son premier tableau se trouve à la chapelle Bentivoglio dans l'église de Saint-Jacques de Bologne; il est daté de 1490, et signé Franciscus Francia Aurifex. Son tableau le plus célèbre est un saint Sébastien, qui a long-temps servi de canon dans l'école de Bologne.

Francia forma une école nombreuse, d'où sortit entre autres le célèbre graveur Marc-Antoine Raimondi.

François Raibolini mourut en 1533.

NOTICE

OF

FRANÇOIS RAIBOLINI, SAID FRANCIA.

François Raibolini was born at Bologne, in 1450. Some people take him to be a pupil of André Mantaigna, and also pretend that he caused himself to be remarked as an engraver; but no mention can be made of any plate engraved by him; yet certain it is, he was a very skilful gold-smith. His first picture is to be seen in Bentivoglio chapel in Saint Jacques church at Bologne, dated 1490, and signed Franciscus Francis Aurifex. His most celebrated painting is a Saint Sebastien, which has been long used as a canon in Bologne School. Francia formed a great Academy whence among others the famous engraver Marc Antoine Raimondi came .out.

François Raibolini died in 1533.

NOTICE

SUR

FRANÇOIS ROMANELLI.

François Romanelli naquit à Viterbe en 1617. Élève de Pierre Berettini, ses compositions sont moins fougueuses que celles de son maître. Son dessin,sans être très-correct, est assez gracieux; sa couleur est fraîche et brillante. Il acquit de bonne heure une grande réputation à Rome, par la protection que lui accordait la famille Barberini; mais, à la mort du Pape Urbain VIII, il se ressentit de la disgrâce qu'éprouva toute cette famille.

Romanelli vint alors en France, et fut occupé par le cardinal Mazarin pour l'ornement de son palais: il peignit en 1651 la voûte de la galerie où sont maintenant places les manuscrits de la Bibliothèque royale, et qui porte encore le nom de Galerie Mazarine, et dans laquelle on dit que la reine mère vint avec toute sa cour pour le voir travailler. Il eut alors l'occasion de peindre, dans ses compositions, celles des dames qui lui offrirent les caractères les plus convenables pour les sujets mythologiques qu'il représentait. Si. comme on le dit maintenant, la Bibliothèque est déplacée et que les bâtimens soient vendus, espérons que du moins, avant de les détruire, on conservera le souvenir de ces peintures, en les faisant graver.

Après avoir terminé les peintures du palais Mazarin, Romanelli fut chargé de peindre plusieurs salles du Louvre où se trouvent maintenant les antiques.

Romanelli retourna à Rome et mourut à Viterbe en 1662, agé de 45 ans.

OF

FRANÇOIS ROMANELLI.

François Romanelli was born at Viterbe, in 1617. A' pupil of Pierre Berettini, his compositions were not so hot as his master's. His drawing though not very correct, is graceful enough; his colouring fresh and brilliant. He acquired early at Rome a great reputation, owing to the protection which the family of Barberini granted him; but, at the death of Pope Urbain VIII, he suffered for the disgrace that family underwent.

Romanelli came then to France, where he was employed by cardinal Mazarin to decorate his palace: he painted in 1651, the roof of his gallery where are now placed the manuscripts of the royal Library, and which yet bears the name of Galerie Mazarine, in which also it is said that the Queen dowager came with all her court to see him painting, he availed himself of that occasion, in drawing the figures of those Ladies that suited best the mythological subjects he represented. If, as is now said, the Library is removed and the building sold, it is to be hoped, at least, that before they are destroyed, the memory of those paintings will be preserved by engraving their compositions. After having finished the paintings of Mazarine palace, Romanelli was ordered to paint several halls in the Louvre, where are now seen the Antiques.

Romanelli returned to Rome, and died at Viterbe, in 1662, 45 years old.