this youth had scarcely acquired the first principles of art, in which he gave promise of becoming an able master, when he also died:[1] this happened not many years after the death of his father, as did also the decease of his mother, the consort of Giulio. There then remained of the artist no other descendant than a daughter called Virginia, who is now the wife of Ercole Malatesta, and still abiding in Mantua.
The death of Giulio Romano caused infinite grief to all who had known him; he received the rites of sepulture in San Barnaba, where it was intended that some honourable monument should be erected to his memory, but the wife and children deferring the execution of this purpose from day to day, have themselves for the most part departed from life, without having proceeded further in the matter. It is meanwhile to be regretted that in a city which he so richly adorned, there has been found no one to take count of his deserts, except at such times as they required his services, when they were ready enough to think of him: but the art from which he obtained so much honour in life has raised him a monument in his works which neither time nor the years shall have power to consume.
Giulio Romano was neither tall nor short of stature, was rather firmly than slightly built, had black hair, a pleasing countenance, the eyes dark and cheerful, of a kindly disposition and graceful deportment, regular in his life, frugal in eating, but fond of dressing and living in an honourable manner. He had a considerable number of disciples, but the most distinguished among them were Gian dal Lione, Raffaellino dal Colle of Borgo, Benedetto Pagni of Pescia, Figurino of Faenza,[2] Rinaldo and Giovan-Battista of Mantua, and Fermo Guisoni, who is still living in Mantua, and does honour to his master, seeing that he is an excellent painter.[3] The same may be said of Benedetto of Pescia, who has produced many works in his native city, with a
- ↑ According to Lanzi, whose authority was Camillo Volta, prefect of the Mantuan Museum, Raphael Pippi, the son of Giulio, attained his thirtieth year.
- ↑ Figurino of Faenza, or Marc Antonio Rocchetti, Giulio Tonduzzi of Faenza may also be added to the list of Giulio’s disciples.
- ↑ For details respecting these and other Mantuan painters, see the Monumenti Mantovani of Carlo D’Arco.
