not always find those who perceive and estimate its value, as did that of Andrea Mantegna. Born in the neighbourhood of Mantua,[1] of a very lowly race, and occupied during his childhood in the tending of flocks, he was eventually so exalted by fate and his own abilities that he at length attained the condition of knighthood, as in its due place will be related. When he had nearly reached his full growth, Andrea was taken to the city, where he studied painting under Jacopo[2] Squarcione, of Padua, who took him into his own house, and, a short time after, perceiving his remarkable abilities, adopted him as his son. This we learn from a letter written in Latin by Messer Girolamo Campagnuola[3] to Messer Lionico Timeo,[4] a Greek philosopher; wherein he gives the latter notices respecting certain old painters who had executed works for the Carrara family, of Padua. But as Squarcione knew himself to be not the most distinguished painter in the world,[5] and to the end that Andrea might know more than he did himself, he caused him to work diligently from casts moulded on antique statues, and after pictures on canvas, which he had brought from various places, more particularly from Tuscany and Rome. By these and other methods of the same kind Andrea Mantegna acquired a fair amount of knowledge in his youth: he was also assisted and stimulated in no slight degree by his emulation of Marco Zoppo, of Bologna,[6] Dario,
- ↑ The question, whether Mantua, or Padua, was the birth-place of Mantegna, has been much disputed: the Marchese Selvatico of Padua has written at some length on this subject, and gives it in favour of Padua, as do Brandolese, the Abbate Gennari, and others.
- ↑ He was called Francesco, not Jacopo. —Ed. Flor. 1832-8.
- ↑ The writer of many Greek and Latin tracts, and as some say, a painter himself.—See Zani, Enciclopedia Metodica, vol. v, p. 318. Parma, 1819-22.
- ↑ Tomeo, not Timeo, a native of Albania, living in Venice, but afterwards professor of Greek in Padua. The letter here alluded to is lost.—Ed. Flor.j 1832.
- ↑ If Francesco Squarcione was not the first painter, he was the best teacher of his time, and was called the father of painters, for his skill in forming pupils, of whom 137 are attributed to his care.—Masselli.
- ↑ A disciple of Lippo Dalmasio, according to Lanzi, and called by some writers, the head of the Bolognese School. For further details respecting this master, see Malvasia, Felsina Pittrice. Edition, 1841.
