MONACA, LA (The Nun), attributed to Leonardo da Vinci (?), Pitti, Florence; wood, H. 2 ft. × 1 ft. 4 in. Half-length, in black dress, with white veil falling upon shoulders; holds a book in left hand; background, seen through two arches, the buildings of a city with hill in distance. Supposed by some to be a portrait of Ginevra, wife of Amerigo Benci, which Leonardo painted in Florence about 1500, but the picture is probably not by Leonardo. Bought by Ferdinand III. of Niccolini family. Engraved by Marchi.—Vasari, ed. Mil., iv. 39; Gal. du Pal. Pitti, ii. Pl. 36; Clement, 374; Rigollot, Hist. des Arts, etc., i. 301; Heaton, 266, 270.
MONACHESI, NICOLA, born at Tolentino,
Italy, in 1795, died in Philadelphia, Pa.,
in 1851. History and portrait painter, pupil
of the Accademia di S. Luca, Rome,
under Gasparo Landi, where he won the
first prize for painting. In 1831 he emigrated
to America, made his home in Philadelphia,
and soon after became a naturalized
citizen. Among his earliest patrons were
Stephen Girard, Madam Rush, and Joseph
Bonaparte. In 1832 he executed a series of
frescos in St. John's Roman Catholic Church
(then the Cathedral), Philadelphia, which
brought him into prominent notice. These,
painted upon wet plaster, are said to have
been the first real frescos executed in this
country. In 1833-34 he frescoed the Philadelphia
Merchants' Exchange, and in 1834
Matthew Newkirk's residence, the decorations
of which were carefully preserved
when it was made into St. George's Hall.
He also frescoed the Roman Catholic
Churches of St. Mary, St. Joseph, St. Augustine,
and St. Philip, and painted altarpieces
for them. In 1841-42 his large historical
picture, The Murder of Jane McCrea,
was exhibited in Philadelphia. His portraits
exist in many old families of Philadelphia
and its vicinity.
MONACO. See Lorenzo Monaco.
MONARCH OF THE GLEN, Sir Edwin
Landseer, H. W. Eaton, M.P., London;
canvas, about 5 ft. 6 in. square. A noble
stag, crowned with twelve tines, stands
among the clouds on a throne of rock and
heather, proudly rearing his head, breathing
defiance to all rivals. Painted in 1851;
intended to fill a square panel in the House
of Lords, but declined. Landseer soon had
his revenge when the picture won the admiration
of everybody at the Academy Exhibition.
Sold to Lord Londesborough for
350 guineas; at Lady Otho Fitzgerald sale
(1884), £6,510. Engraved by Thomas Landseer.—London
Times, May 12, 1884.
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Francisco de Monçada, Anton van Dyck, Louvre, Paris.
MONCADA, FRANCISCO DE, portrait, Anton van Dyck, Louvre, Paris; canvas, H. 9 ft. 11 in. × 8 ft. Equestrian portrait of Monçada, Marquis d'Aytona, commander of the Spanish forces in the Netherlands (born in 1586, died in 1635). He is in armour, bare-headed, with a red silk scarf on left arm, and a commander's baton in his hand. One of Van Dyck's best equestrian pictures. Painted about 1632. Engraved by R. Morghen; Vorsterman. Study (bust) in Louvre; engraved by Snyderhoef.—Villot, Cat. Louvre; Filhol.
