88 THE FINE ARTS. 
developing the true principles on which the representation of the nude 
figure depends, and basing it on the study of anatomy. But a more special 
notice is due to Domenico Ghirlandaio (properly Bigordi), who was born in 
Florence in the year 1451; for he, of all the painters who then labored in 
the Sixtine Chapel, is the only one who can compare with Pietro Perugino. 
He possessed facility and richness of invention, drew diligently and 
correctly, and was so wellacquainted with perspective that he ornamented 
his backgrounds with buildings properly diminished. His Death of St. 
Francis, in the church of Sta. Trinita in Florence, is celebrated. Ghirlan- 
daio was the instructor of Michael Angelo. 
Leonardo da Vinci (b. 1444, d. 1519) was the son of a notary in Florence, 
and was placed under the charge of Barocchio, to receive instructions in 
drawing, but he soon surpassed his master. Even in early life he pursued 
with distinguished success a number of almost incompatible studies; and 
in the year 1482, Ludovigo Maria Sforza, duke of Milan, invited him into 
his service, where he became the founder and superintendent of an academy 
of design. Among the pictures he was commissioned to paint for the duke 
the most celebrated is his Last Supper in the refectory of the Dominicans 
of Sta. Maria delle Grazie in Milan, a picture unfortunately which is now 
almost completely obliterated, but which can still be studied in good copies 
by pupils of his, viz. by Bernardino Luino and others, as also in good 
engravings, the finest of which is by Raphael Morghen. When Leo X. was 
elevated to the papal throne, Da Vinci accompanied duke Julius of Milan 
to Rome ; but as, on account of the rivalry of Michael Angelo and Raphael, 
no considerable works were intrusted to him, he went in his old age (in 1515) 
~ to France, whither he was invited by Francis I. but where on the whole 
he wrought but little. As respects the peculiarities ofhis works, some are 
distinguished for strong shadows which bring out sharply the contrasted 
lights, as for instance in Leonardo’s own portrait, while in others free play 
is given to the half tints, as ¢. g.in the J/adonna in the Albani palace. 
Leonardo was indefatigable in his studies even to an advanced age, and 
was never satisfied with his works, on which account but few are known 
which he finished completely. Among his celebrated productions are Lisa 
del Giocondo, a picture purchased by Francis I. for 4000 seudi; a Leda, 
now in Vienna; Christ teaching im the Temple, in the Pamfili palace in 
Rome; and Herodias with the head of St. John the Baptist. As a specimen 
of Da Vinci’s beautiful compositions we have given a sketch (pl. 15, jig. 2) 
representing the Madonna and Child, to whom the archangel Michael is 
bringing the scales of justice, with St. Elizabeth and the youthful John the 
Baptist near them. In addition to his pursuits in painting and many other 
studies, Leonardo also employed his time in literary works, and sixteen volumes 
of his manuscripts are preserved in the Ambrosian library at Milan. Unfor- 
tunately none of these but his treatise on painting have appeared in print; 
on the other hand there are many drawings and engravings after his works 
which furnish admirable studies for the draughtsman. 
The number of Da Vinci’s pupils was very great; but the most distin- 
guished among them was Baccio della Porta, who was born in 1496 in the 
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