good master, whether for large or small figures, and in portraits was most admirable, as may be seen by his works at Naples, where he lived for some time, and where he ultimately died. By his hand, and they must do him honour to all time, were the designs for anatomical studies which the most admirable Andrea Vessalio caused to be engraved on copper and published with his works.[1] But the artist who has most successfully imitated Titian, was Paris Bordone; who, born in Treviso, of parents, one a Trevisano, the other a Venetian, was taken, at the age of eight, to certain of his mother’s kindred in Venice. Here, having studied grammar and become an excellent musician, he was sent to Titian, but did not spend many years with that master, whom he perceived to have but little disposition to instruct his disciples, even though entreated by them to do so, and encouraged thereto by the patience and good conduct of those young men. Bordone resolved to leave him therefore, but grieving much that Giorgione was no longer alive at that time, the manner of the latter pleasing him greatly; as did still more his reputation of being an excellent and affectionate teacher to all who desired to learn from him. Since he could not do better, therefore, Bordone set himself to imitate the manner of Giorgione to the utmost of his power, and by earnest labour in the copying of his works, he rendered himself so good an artist that he obtained an excellent reputation. He was thus only eighteen when he received the commission for painting a picture in the Church of San Niccolò, which belongs to the Minorite Priars; but Titian, having heard this, contrived by means of friends and favours to get it out of his hands, perhaps to prevent his giving proof of his ability at so early a period; perhaps, also, induced by the love of gain.
Paris was subsequently invited to Vicenza, there to paint
- ↑ This great anatomist was born at Brussels. He was condemned to death for having opened the body of a Spaniard whom he affirmed to have been dead, but who is said to have only appeared to be so. The crime was, however, not fully proved, and his sentence was commuted by the intervention of Philip II., for a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. On his return from this journey, Vessalio was shipwrecked, and died of hunger on a desert part of the island of Zante, in the year 1564. His portrait, painted by Titian, is in the Pitti Palace, and his magnificent work, De humani corporis fuhrica, (some of the plates in which are said to have been designed by Titian) will doubtless be known to many of our readers.
