Identifier: dictionaryofpain05brya (find matches)
Title: Dictionary of painters and engravers
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Bryan, Michael, 1757-1821 Williamson, George Charles, 1858-1942
Subjects: Painters Engravers
Publisher: London, G. Bell
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: University of Toronto

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rdo, is of considerably later date. Thereare numerous studies for Madonna pictures of thisperiod, and in the autumn of 1478 he speaks ofcommencing the Two Virgin Maries. Some work done at Florence must have perished,some is probably still unidentified ; the list is,however, a very brief one. But the art of paintinghad been but one out of many interests. His is analmost unique instance of a mind endowed withfaculties equally adapted either for the pursuit ofart or science, either to create or to investigate. Ofthe latter aptitude his writings offer ample proof,and he claims in them also that he has spent asmuch time in sculpture as in painting. In thedraft of his famous letter to Ludovic Sforza hespecifies his ability to construct different enginesand devices for warfare on land or by sea, adding,only very summarily, his readiness to do any workin architecture, painting, or sculpture, as, forexample, the statue of Francesco Sforza. Else-where he speaks of himself as having been invited
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w c Oh D Hr. •*,_) W XH 5I PAINTERS AND ENGRAVERS. from Florence by the Duke to make the equestrianetatue. The commission was therefore coincidentwith his arrival in Milan, which occurred in 1482or 1483. Apparently he did not remain there.No records show his presence there between 1483and 1487. Part of this time was probably spentin Syria as military engineer in the service of theSultan of Egypt. That he did actually hold such apost is the most natural interpretation of certainreports in the form of letters, with descriptions ofthe regions of Syria, which are to be found in the Codice Atlantico. He was back in Milan in 1487, and made a modelfor the cupola of the Cathedral, and the next twelveyears were spent in the service of Ludovic. Hisfortunes waxed and waned with change of politicalcircumstances. That very instability suggestedby the record of unfulfilled commissions was attimes occasioned by variance in the Dukes moodsor necessities. The marriages whereby Ludovicsought to secur

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