File:Antonio Pollaiuolo (1907) (14578390159).jpg

Identifier: antoniopollaiuol00crut (find matches)
Title: Antonio Pollaiuolo
Year: 1907 (1900s)
Authors: Cruttwell, Maud
Subjects: Pollaiolo, Antonio, 1426?-1498 Pollaiolo, Piero, ca. 1443-1496
Publisher: London : Duckworth and Co. New York : C. Scribner's Sons
Contributing Library: Harold B. Lee Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Brigham Young University

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
o, which seem inflated with air and have as littleweight and balance as a bladder. If a comparisonbetween the work of the two brothers be desired, let thereader turn to the Altarpiece of S. Sebastian (p. 15),where in the legs of the foreground archer to the left,may be seen a precise copy of those of the David^apparently imitated either from this picture or somepreliminary study. They are alike only in form how-ever, for in passing through the hand of Piero theyhave been robbed of all vitality. The David is amasterpiece of fine draughtsmanship and technical per-fection, of which Piero in his most mature years wasincapable. The date of the two small panels in the Uffizi,(No. 1153) (Plates VI.and VII.) representing the Combatsof Hercules with the Hydra and with Antaeus, isapproximately fixed by their connection with the threelarge canvases, now lost, painted by Antonio for Lorenzode Medici in 1460. The letter in which he refers tothese paintings, stating them to have been executed by VI
Text Appearing After Image:
Alinari HERCUI.es slaying the hydra, by ANTONIO POLLAIUOLO UFFIZI, FLORENCE Face p. 66 EARLY PAINTED WORK 67 himself and his brother in that year, has been ah*eadyquoted (p. 17). It is certain that the share of Pieromust have been limited to the most subordinate partssince he was only seventeen at the time. It is generallysupposed that the small panels were painted as studiesfor the canvases, but considering the miniature-like carewith which they are finished, and for other reasons thatwill be stated presently, they must hold an independentposition, though it is most likely that they were paintedabout the same time. They belonged to the MediciCollection, probably to Lorenzo himself, and it may bethat he valued them so highly as to order them to becopied on a larger scale. Of the perished canvases we have the followingnotices. Vasari, who evidently knew them well, writesof them thus: In the house of the Medici Antonio painted for Lorenzothe three pictures of Hercules, five braccia high

Note About Images