Piero executed a figure of Christ praying by night in the garden, which is very beautiful.[1]
In Perugia, also, this master produced many works which are still to be seen in that city. Among others, a picture in “tempera,” for the church of the nuns of Sant’ Antonio of Padua, this represents the Virgin with the Child on her lap; she is accompanied by San Francesco, Sant’ Elizabetta, San Giovanni Battista, and Sant’ Antonio of Padua. Above these figures is a most beautiful Annunciation, with an angel which seems in truth, to have descended from heaven; and, what is more, a range of columns diminishing in perspective, which is indeed beautiful. In the predella are representations in small figures, depicting St. Anthony restoring a boy to life; St. Elizabeth saving a child who has fallen into a well, and St. Francis receiving the stigmata.[2] At Ancona, likewise, on the altar of St. Joseph, in the church of San Ciriaco, Piero della Francesca depicted the espousals of our Lady in a story of extraordinary beauty.[3]
This master was exceedingly zealous in the study of arts. As I have said, he devoted much attention to perspective, and possessed considerable knowledge of Euclid, inasmuch that he understood all the most important properties of rectilinear bodies better than any other geometrician; and the most useful elucidations of these matters which we possess, are from his hand: for the monk of St. Francis, Maestro Luca del Borgo, whose works treat of regular geometrical bodies, was his disciple, and when Piero became old, and finally died, after having written many books, the above-named Maestro Luca, attributing them to himself, caused the works of his master to be printed as his own, they having fallen into his hands on the death of Piero.[4]
It was the custom of Piero della Francesca to form figures in clay whereon he afterwards arranged draperies of soft textures richly folded, from which he then drew, using them as his models. Among the disciples of Piero was Lorentino
- ↑ In the restoration of the church towards the middle of the last century this picture was destroyed.
- ↑ Destroyed during the last century in restorations of the church.
- ↑ Believed to be the Tryptica, now to be seen in the Academy of the Fine Arts in Perugia.
- ↑ Of this work no trace remains. See Ricci, Mem. Stor. dell'Arte e degli Artisti della Marca d'Ancona.
