MEMMI— MICHELANGELO. 108
- I have known two excellent painters,
Giotto, a citizen of Florence, whose fame among the modems is immense ; and Sim one, of Siena." Petrarch be- came acquainted with Simone at Avig- non, where he painted Laura, in 1339. Simone*s frescoes are represented as having a greater character of holiness than is generally found among the Flo- rentine painters of his time ; though ill drawn, his figures are dignified. The accessory parts — ^the hair and orna- ments, are finished with great delicacy. The story of the portraits of Petrarch and Laura, in the Cappella degli Spag- nuoli, is a mere fable. The only por- trait of Laura, painted by Simone, is lost ; but there appears to be a portrait of her in a MS. in the Laurentian library, at Florence; it is engraved by Gicognara, in his History of Sculp- ture, vol. i. pi. 42. In the Ambrosian library, at Milan, in a Virgil, and in the Boyal Library, at Paris, in a Bible, are miniature illustrations by Memmi. The Virgil in the Ambrosian Library belonged to Petrarch. lippo Memmi was Simone's brother-in-law, and com- pleted some of Simone's unfinished works ; he was still living in 1361. Works. Siena Academy, an altar- piece, the Madonna and Child, with Saints: Palazza Pubblico, Sala del Gonsiglio, large fresco, the Madonna and Child, enthroned; the Apostles and Saints ; and Angels oflfering Flowers, inscribed — Li Angelichi fio- recH, Rose et CHgli, onde s* adoma lo Celeste Prato, non mi dilettan piii ch* h buon consiglij etc., etc. 1315. (Dis- puted.) Florence, Santa Maria No- vella, chapel de' Spagnuoli, the Church Militant and Triumphant; Paradise; St. Peter and Two Angels receiving the Souls of the Just ; the Crucifixion, &c. (1332) : Uffizj, an Annimciation, by Simone and Lippo, conjointly (1333) : ehapter-house of Santo Spirito, the Crucifixion (doubtful). Pisa, Campo Santo, San Ranieri, partly restored by the Melani (doubtful). Berlin Gal- lery, Virgin and Child ; a picture in two divisions, the upper representing the Annunciation, the lower part Saints. Antwerp Galler}', a Crucifixion, &c. England, Liverpool Institution, the Virgin and Joseph, with the youthful Saviour, who has just rejoined them, mBiked — Symon de Senis me pinxit Jub, A. M.CCC.XLIL {Vasari,) MICHELANGELO Buonaeboti, the Caposcuola of the Florentine School, h. at Castel Caprese, near Arezzo, March 6, 1475, d, at Home, Feb. 17, 1564, having nearly completed his eighty-ninth year. Michelangelo was apprenticed to Domenico Ghirlandajo, April 1, 1488, for three years. He first practised, however, as a sculptor, owing to the special patronage of Lorenzo de' Me- dici ; upon the death of Lorenzo, in 1492, he removed to Bologna, but re- turned to Florence in 1494; he then visited Bome; returned again to Flo- rence in 1501, and in 1503 was com- missioned by the Gonfaloniere Sodo- rini to prepare a Cartoon for the Council Hall. Up to this time Michel- angelo had been employed exclusively as a sculptor. This Cartoon, cele- brated as the Cartoon of Pisa, was completed in 1506 ; he was invited to Bome by Julius II. during its pro- gress, returned to Florence in 1505, and made a third visit to Bome in 1508. On this occasion Michelangelo commenced his great career as a pain- ter; he completed the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel at the close of 1512, the Cartoons were commenced in 1509. During the Pontificate of Leo X., he was chiefly employed at the quarries of Pietra Santa ; but he was commanded to continue the frescoes of the Sistine Chapel by Clement VIL; the great fresco of the Last Judgment was com- menced in 1538, and finished in 1541.
