MARTYRDOM OF ST. PETER This picture, one of Titian's finest works, was painted at Venice, in 1528, for the church of St. John and St. Paul: this great artist was then forty eight years old, and he was commanded to execute it, in consequence of a competition between him and Palma, called Il Vecchio, or the old man. St. Peter was horn at Verona, towards the year 1205 : educated by a catholic master, he professed that religion notwithstanding his father. As early as the age of fifteen he entered the order of St. Dominic, and preached, both with zeal and success. Being named inquisitor, his ardour increased in the midst of the dangers to which his situation exposed him, and was such, according to the expression of one of his historians, << that like unto a lion among ferocious beasts, he allowed no rest to the heretics. » Some inhabitants of Milan conspired against his life, and at the eve of Easter, on the road to Como, an assassin named Cavina met him, near the borders of a wood, struck him and threw him down, weltering in his blood: then, whilst he was running to put to death brother Dominico, his companion, he saw St. Peter on his knees repeating the Apostles' creed; the assassin, who was enraged anew, again, struck his victim, who then expired. In this beautiful picture, every thing is great, forcible, and expressive. The grandeur of the figures, the boldness and truth of the foreshortenings, the manly expression of the heads, the display of the draperies agitated by the wind, the warmth of the colouring, and the nobleness of the landscape, are equally worthy of admiration. This picture, painted on wood, came to the Paris Museum, where, in 1799, it was transferred on canvass by M. Haquin : in 1815 it was taken back to Venice. It has been engraved by Martin Rota, V. Lefèvre, and H. Laurent. Height, 16 feet 6 inches; width, 9 feet 11 inches. 319. ÉCOLE ITALIENNE. oooooooo B. BISCAINO. oooooooo. GALERIE DE DRESDE. LA FEMME ADULTÈRE. La loi de Moïse ordonnant de faire mourir ceux qui avaient commis un adultère, l'usage était de les conduire hors de la ville et de les lapider; mais cela n'avait lieu qu'après un jugement rendu par les prêtres, sur la plainte du mari et la déposition de plusieurs témoins. Voulant donc tenter Jésus-Christ, et voir s'il pourrait dans ce cas éluder la loi, et user de son indulgence ordinaire envers une personne coupable, les scribes et les pharisiens lui présentèrent une femme amenée devant eux, et lui dirent: - Maître, cette femme vient d'être surprise en adultère : or Moïse nous a commandé dans la loi de lapider ces sortes de personnes; vous donc qu'en dites-vous? » Jésus-Christ alors se baissant, écrivit avec son doigt sur le sable, et leur dit : « : « Que celui de vous qui est sans péché lui jette la première pierre. Les tableaux de Biscaïno sont assez rares. Le peintre, en rendant ce sujet, a donné à ses figures des expressions convenables et variées; les figures sont de grandeur naturelle, mais à mi-corps. Ce tableau fait partie de la Galerie de Dresde; il a été gravé par Joseph Camerata. Larg., 7 pieds; haut., 5 pieds 3 pouces. ITALIAN SCHOOL. oooooooo B. BISCAINO, 00000000 DRESDEN GALLERY. The law of Moses commanding to put to death those who had committed adultery, the custom was to take them out of the town, and to stone them but this could take place, only after a judgement, pronounced by the priests, upon the deposition of the husband, and of several witnesses. The scribes and pharisees, wishing to tempt Jesus Christ, by trying if he would, in that case, elude the law, and make use of his usual indulgence towards a guilty person, brought unto him a woman, saying: « Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act: now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? » Jesus Christ stooping down, wrote with his finger and said to them: He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her. » Biscaino's pictures are rather scarce. In this subject, the artist has given a suitable and varied expression to his personages the figures are of the natural size, but half length. This picture forms part of the Dresden gallery. It has been engraved by Joseph Camerata. Width, 7 feet 5 inches; height, 5 feet 7 inches. |