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

Chap. VI. FRAGMENTS OF ALTARPIECES 157
ness of this attribution is further confirmed by the close connection, in type
and modelling, between this saint and the St. Roch in the recently discovered
processional banner at Orzinuovi.' The saint wears a grey blue robe and
scarlet mantle lined with green, the border of which is profusely decorated
with letters ; the architectural setting is gold and the background blue. The
other two works are in the collection of Prince Trivulzio—two full-length
figures of saints, a bishop and an abbot, on gold ground, standing in front
of a low parapet, similar in character to the parapet forming the background
to the terra-cotta angels in the Portinari Chapel. The pose of both figures,
slightly inclined to the left, proves that they must have occupied a place on
the right of a large altarpiece, in the centre of which was doubtless represented
the Madonna and Child." Both pictures were in very bad condition
when they were discovered by their present owner, being disfigured by
coarse and late repaints with oil colours, and it is entirely owing to the
judicious treatment they have received at the hands of Professor Cavenaghi
that the original character has reappeared, thus enabling them to take their
place in the category of Foppa's indisputable works. The serious and
thoughtful expression of the heads, with the typical drawing of the eyes and
modelling of the features, and the form and feeling of the hands, would at
once stamp them as admirable works of the Brescian master. These fine
and dignified figures, well posed and firmly planted, showing a developed
feeling for form beneath the drapery, which in arrangement and quality it is
interesting to compare with the drapery of the best figures in the Brera
altarpiece, bear eloquent testimony to the correctness of the attribution. In
course of time some fortunate chance may lead to the discovery of other
parts of this altarpiece, or of that to which Signor Noseda's panel belonged,
though there is little hope that they will ever be entirely reconstructed ; but
it is possible, by collecting all the information at present available relating
to lost altarpieces which Foppa is known to have produced, and by drawing
attention to all newly discovered works by the master, that something may
eventually be achieved in this direction.
In speaking of works which have come to light within recent years, two
figures in tempera on canvas representing St. Gregory and St. Bartholomew
may be mentioned here. They were discovered by Dr. Frizzoni in the collection
of Herr Reinholt Sarasin-Warnery at Basle, and like Signor Noseda's
St. Paul also came from Bergamo, having been in the collection of Signor
Gritti ; but nothing further is known of their history.
The St. Gregory seems certainly to be by Foppa, the type and drawing
of the features are, on the whole, typical of his manner, and so too is the
'
See chap. viii. ^ Arte, ibid., p. 318.