ANIMAL LIFE IN ITALIAN PAINTING 



influence of his master, Lorenzo Costa/ upon his work. 

 In the altar-piece painted for Giovanni Bentivoglio in 

 1499 (Bologna), in front of the Child, who lies on the 

 ground, His head supported by a cushion, are two gold- 

 finches sitting on a twig. The same birds appear in the 

 " Franciscan " Annunciation dated in the following year. 

 Dr. G. C. Williamson says : " Attention should be 

 given to the birds that are depicted upon the branches 

 near St. John, as birds, generally goldfinches, are a 

 characteristic of Francia's work, and are always beauti- 

 fully painted with the utmost loving care. In this 

 picture there are two lovely ones ; and they also appear 

 in the Manzuoli and Bentivoglio altar-pieces." ^ Of the 

 Madonna in the Rose Garden he says : " Here he has 

 painted the roses on their trellis, and the birds and 

 lizards that sport in the branches, not as a Lombard 

 artist, say Luini, would have painted them, as a grand 

 rich background for the figures in the picture, but has 

 subordinated them to the central figure, and yet given 

 to their execution all the careful detail that he felt 

 was their due. He has painted them lovingly, in a 

 realistic manner, and as one who loved what he was 

 depicting." 



^ There are some good animals, particularly a monkey and camels, in 

 an Adoration by Costa in the Brera, Milan. 



* Francesco Kaibo/itii, called Francia, 1899, p. 59. 



58 



