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Article SKETCHES OF CELEBRATED CHARACTERS. Page 1 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of Celebrated Characters.
SKETCHES OF CELEBRATED CHARACTERS .
MICHELAGNOLO BUONARROTTI : ( Commonly called MICHAEL ANGELO . ) A T the revival of learning and arts , ' under the splendid patronage - ^ - of Lorenzo de Medicis , burst forth that sublime genius , Michelagnolo . In the gardens founded by his illustrious protector he first imbibed that spirit which was destined to effect a reformation in the
arts , and which he . coukl , perhaps , have derived from no other source . Of a noble but reduced family , he had been placed by his father ,, when young , under the tuition of the painter Ghirlandajo , from whom Lorenzo , desirous of promoting his new establishment , requested that he would permit two of his pupils to pursue their studies in his gardens , at the same time expressing his hopes that they would there
obtain such instruction as would not only reflect honour on the institution , but also on themselves , and on their country . The students who had the good fortune to be thus selected , were Michelagnolo and Francesco Granacci . On the first visit of Michelagnolo , he found in the gardens his future adversary , Torregiano , who , under the directions of Bertoldo , was modelling figures in clay . Michelagnolo applied himself to the same occupation ; and his work soon afterwards attracted the attention of Lorenzo , who , from these early specimens , formed great expectations of his talents . Encouraged by
such approbation , he began to cut in marble the head of a fawn , after an antique sculpture ; which , though unaccustomed to the chissel , he executed with such skill as to astonish Lorenzo , who , observing that he had made some intentional deviations from the ori ginal , and that , in particular , he had represented the lips smoother , and had shewn the tongue and teeth , remarked to him , with his accustomed jocularitythat he should have remembered that old men seldom exhibit
, a complete range of teeth . The docile artist , who paid no less respect to the judgment than to the rank of Lorenzo , was no sooner left to himself , than he struck out one of the teeth , giving to the part the appearance of its having been lost by age . On his next visit , Lorenzo was equally delighted with the disposition and the genius of his young pupil , and , sending for his father , not only took the son
under his particular protectijn , but made such a provision for the old man as his age . and the circumstances of his numerous family required . From this time till the' death of Lorenzo , which included an interval of four years , Michelagnolo constantly resided in the . palace of the Medici , and sat at the table of Lorenzo , among his most honoured guests , where , by a commendable regulation , the troublesome distinc-VOL . VII . Z
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Sketches Of Celebrated Characters.
SKETCHES OF CELEBRATED CHARACTERS .
MICHELAGNOLO BUONARROTTI : ( Commonly called MICHAEL ANGELO . ) A T the revival of learning and arts , ' under the splendid patronage - ^ - of Lorenzo de Medicis , burst forth that sublime genius , Michelagnolo . In the gardens founded by his illustrious protector he first imbibed that spirit which was destined to effect a reformation in the
arts , and which he . coukl , perhaps , have derived from no other source . Of a noble but reduced family , he had been placed by his father ,, when young , under the tuition of the painter Ghirlandajo , from whom Lorenzo , desirous of promoting his new establishment , requested that he would permit two of his pupils to pursue their studies in his gardens , at the same time expressing his hopes that they would there
obtain such instruction as would not only reflect honour on the institution , but also on themselves , and on their country . The students who had the good fortune to be thus selected , were Michelagnolo and Francesco Granacci . On the first visit of Michelagnolo , he found in the gardens his future adversary , Torregiano , who , under the directions of Bertoldo , was modelling figures in clay . Michelagnolo applied himself to the same occupation ; and his work soon afterwards attracted the attention of Lorenzo , who , from these early specimens , formed great expectations of his talents . Encouraged by
such approbation , he began to cut in marble the head of a fawn , after an antique sculpture ; which , though unaccustomed to the chissel , he executed with such skill as to astonish Lorenzo , who , observing that he had made some intentional deviations from the ori ginal , and that , in particular , he had represented the lips smoother , and had shewn the tongue and teeth , remarked to him , with his accustomed jocularitythat he should have remembered that old men seldom exhibit
, a complete range of teeth . The docile artist , who paid no less respect to the judgment than to the rank of Lorenzo , was no sooner left to himself , than he struck out one of the teeth , giving to the part the appearance of its having been lost by age . On his next visit , Lorenzo was equally delighted with the disposition and the genius of his young pupil , and , sending for his father , not only took the son
under his particular protectijn , but made such a provision for the old man as his age . and the circumstances of his numerous family required . From this time till the' death of Lorenzo , which included an interval of four years , Michelagnolo constantly resided in the . palace of the Medici , and sat at the table of Lorenzo , among his most honoured guests , where , by a commendable regulation , the troublesome distinc-VOL . VII . Z