on frescoes from the Life of Christ in the same churchy nay, opposite to the work of Boccaccino, where Altobello was producing stories which are exceedingly beautiful and truly worthy of commendation. Pleased, as we have said, with Boccaccino’s manner, Benvenuto remained two years in Cremona, and having made great progress under the discipline of the Cremonese artist, he departed, being then in his nineteenth year, and repaired to Rome.
It was in the year 1500[1] that Garofalo arrived in that city, where he placed himself with Giovanni Baldini, a Florentine painter of considerable ability,[2] who had a large number of most beautiful drawings by different masters of eminence in his possession, and on these Benvenuto practised whenever he had time, more particularly during the night. After having remained with Baldini fifteen months, and having examined the works of art in Rome to his great delight, Benvenuto continued for some time to move about through various parts of Italy, and finally arrived in Mantua, where he remained during two years with Lorenzo Costa, serving him with so much affection that, after the lapse of that time, Lorenzo, to reward his attachment, procured him an appointment to the service of Francesco Gonzaga, Marquis of Mantua, by whom Lorenzo himself was employed.
But Garofalo had not been long with the Marquis, before he was compelled, by the illness of his father, to return to Ferrara, where he then continued during four years, exe cuting numerous works on his own account, as well as others, which he performed in the company of the Dossi.[3]
In the year 1505, Messer Jeronimo Sagrato, a gentleman of Ferrara, who resided in Rome, sent for Benvenuto, desiring him to repair to the last-named city, which he did most gladly, and the rather as he much desired to see the miracles then related of Raffaello da Urbino, and of the
- ↑ It would seem that there must here be an error in the date, since the works of Altobello and Boccaccini referred to in the text, bear respectively the dates 1518, 1515, and 1517.
- ↑ For some few notices concerning Baldini, see Baruffaldi, Vite de più insigni Pittori.
- ↑ For mention of whom see vol. iii. of the present work.
Pittura, Milan, 1584; and Lamo, Discorso sopra le tre Arti, Cremona, 1584. See also Morelli, Notizie, &c.
