Vincenzo Foppa of Brescia, founder of the Lombard school, his life ...

74 VINCENZO FOPPA
desires in Pavia or its territory, and to be granted equal rights and privileges
with the Pavians, as though he were a native and true-born citizen of Pavia
(Doc No. 13). Her commands referring to Foppa are, she adds, to be inviolably
observed, "subject to the penalty of our displeasure."
A letter couched in such strong terms received immediate attention from
the authorities at Pavia, for by the autumn of 1468 we find Foppa must have
been the owner of a house in that city (Doc. No. 15); and having, through
the intervention of the Duchess, obtained all the rights and privileges accruing
to a citizen, he now took steps to cause himself to be formally recognized
as such.
On October 14, 1468 (Doc. No. 15), Galeazzo Maria, writing from Novara,
addressed a letter on behalf of Foppa to the Podesta and Presidents of the
Council of Twelve at Pavia, ^ urging them to elect the painter as their fellowcitizen.
After alluding to the fact that for the past twelve years Foppa had
been living at Pavia with his family, and had therefore every right to be
regarded as a citizen, the Duke proceeded to speak of him in the most flattering
terms as a painter " who in his profession is surpassed by none " and one
whose election to the citizenship would be an honour to Pavia, not only by
reason of his great artistic merits, but also on account of his high moral
character and law-abiding qualities. The Duke therefore commanded that
Master Vincenzo should be elected a citizen of Pavia with all the necessary
formalities, but without being put to any expense." This letter sufficiently
testifies to the high opinion which Galeazzo Maria entertained of Foppa, and
in another missive of a month earlier (Doc. No. 14), according to the terms
of which the Duke appoints him an honorary member of his household, we
have yet further proof of that esteem. This honour, conferred upon Foppa
in recognition of his conspicuous merits, must have been very gratifying to
the painter, the more so as the privilege carried with it immunity from taxation.
In the same letter the Duke also grants him a safe-conduct for six
years, from which fact we might infer that Foppa must then have had it in his
mind to seek work beyond the limits of Milanese territory. The safe-conduct
provided that Foppa and persons travelling with him were to be given a free
pass throughout the Duke's dominions, and to be exempted from tolls, taxes,
and other charges, and further, the rulers of other states are solicited
^ The Twelve who presided over the city formed the so-called Consiglio di Provvisione,
a body which under the presidency of the Podesta managed the ordinary affairs
of the Commune. For business of special importance the Twelve convened the General
Council, whose members were called " Cittadini aggiunti."
^ The Duke's words are: "We therefore desire and command you of the Council
of Twelve, together with the same number of members of the General Council, to elect
. . . Master Vincenzo," etc.