CHAPTER IX 



PADUA 



Justus of 

 Padua, 

 d. 1400 



Mantegna, 

 1431-1506 



An early painter, known by a name which recalls his 

 quarter of a century's work in Padua, where he studied 

 the paintings of Giotto, is Justus — Giusto di Giovanni 

 — of Padua. 



A very good example of his art is the Coronation 

 of the Virgin (National Gallery), dated 1367. The 

 painting of the ass is excellent ; the long upper lip, 

 the curve of the nose, and the peppering of white 

 on the dark hair are all carefully rendered. The ox 

 is less good, and the ram is as clumsy and wanting in 

 modelling as those of Margaritone. 



Though Justus is included here, it is not by such 

 work that the character of Paduan painting is shown. 

 The spirit of revived antiquity, which here owed so 

 much to the enthusiastic teaching of Squarcione, is 

 seen in all its impressive grandeur in Andrea Mantegna. 

 He felt and shared in the life which Greek and Roman 

 sculpture had handed down. But he too, brought up 

 on the farm, painted nature from loving observation 

 and for its own sake. 



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