fable. A tliird has the Marquis Francesco, led by Hercules along the path of virtue, and conducted to the summit of a mountain which is consecrated to Eternity. In another compartment the same Marquis is seen standing on a pedestal in an attitude of triumph, with the baton of command in his hand, while around him are numerous nobles and attendants bearing standards, and all filled with joy and gladness at the greatness of their lord; among these figures are numerous portraits taken from the life.[1] In the great hall of the same palace, where the triumphal processions of Mantegua are now to be seen, Lorenzo likewise painted two pictures, one at each end of the hall. In the first, which is in watercolour, are many figures undraped and occupied in making fires, and offering sacrifice to Hercules. In this picture there are portraits of the Marquis and his three sons, Federigo, Ercole, and Ferrante, who all afterwards became great and most illustrious nobles; with likenesses of several great ladies. In the other, which was painted in oil many years after the first, and which was among the last of Lorenzo’s works, is the Marchese Federigo, grown to manhood, with the truncheon of a commander in his hand, as General of Holy Church under Leo X. Around him are various nobles depicted by Costa from the life.[2]
In Bologna, in the palace of Messer Giovanni Bentivogli, the same artist, in company with many other masters, painted several chambers, of which we need make no further mention, since they have been destroyed in the ruin of the palace.[3] But I will not omit to say that, of the works executed by Lorenzo for Bentivogli, there still remains the Chapel which he painted for Messer Giovanni, in the church of San Jacopo, and where he depicted two triumphal processions, in separate stories, which are considered very beautiful, and contain many portraits.[4] In 1497, Lorenzo
- ↑ When Mantua was sacked by the Germans, in 1630, the palace of San Sehastiano was totally devastated, and the works of Costa were consequently destroyed. The palace afterwards became a prison.—Ed. Flor., 1832.
- ↑ Both the pictures of the hall are likewise destroyed.
- ↑ This happened in 1507, when the palace Avas destroyed by the fury of the people. For a popular account of this event, the reader is referred to the Almanaco Statistico di Bologna, No, 2. p, 145. — Bologna, 1831.
- ↑ The altar-piece of this chapel is by Francia. The frescoes of Lorenzo, still remaining, are first, a Virgin enthroned, and next, a large family picture.
