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

Chap. II. THE MEDICI BANK 45
This proves therefore that the house was not finished before September,
1460 ; and knowing as we do from former letters that the work was constantly
delayed, and that the rebuilding and decoration occupied at least five years,
it may be doubted whether it was actually completed by the date named
in Pigello's letter, and by that time, or soon after, Foppa was probably
in Genoa and would not have been available for executing paintings in the
building. In June, 1462, as we saw, Francesco Sforza ordered his representative
at Pavia to find Foppa, as he required his services. Had the painter at
that date been working in the Medici Bank the Duke would certainly
have been aware of it, for we know, from Pigello's letter just quoted, that
he took the deepest interest in all that concerned this palace. We may
be certain, therefore, that up to the summer of 1462 Foppa had not begun to
paint his series of frescoes there. The Duke's summons brought him into
notice again at Milan, and doubtless led to his being employed by Pigello
Portinari, to whom he was in all probability recommended personally by
Francesco Sforza. We think, therefore, taking into consideration all these
facts as well as Filarete's statement alluded to above, that we may assume
with tolerable certainty that Foppa's work in the Medici Bank was begun
between 1462 and 1464.' Of the position of these frescoes and the subjects
represented, Filarete gives so precise an account that it is best to quote this
well-known passage in extenso :
—
"The loggia which is on the left of the entrance is twenty-eight
braccia in length and eight in width, and is being painted by the hand
of a good master called Vincenzo de Foppa, who up to now has painted
the image of Trajan in a most meritorious and excellent fashion with
other figures for ornament ; and thus he is to paint all this part with
figures, with the effigies of Roman emperors eight in number," and with
honore compiutamente: quanto sia grato a voi e il
piaciere n' ha la S. Sua, non vi vo dire
di tutta la cittk, lo vedrete e intenderete ala vostra venuta" (Filza VIII, No. 395).
Other letters containing brief allusions to the building are the following : October
4, 1455, Filza IX, No. 184; November 15, 1455, id., 188; April 9, 1456, id., 204;
April 24, 1456, id., 207; May 14, 1456, id., 227; March 18, 1457, F. XII, 244.
1
The Florentine ambassadors (see chap, i, p. 25) dined at the Medici Bank with
Pigello Portinari on November 11, 1461 {Arch. Stor. It., Ser. Ill, Vol. I, pt. i,
p. 11), but make no comment upon the building, another proof that the decoration was
not far advanced at that date, for they were appreciative of all they saw, and wrote
enthusiastically of the Palazzo dell' Arengo as one of the beautiful sights of the world,
and of the Castello as the finest existing fortress. They would scarcely, therefore, have
failed to make some remark about the decorative work and frescoes in the Medici Bank,
had these been in existence at the time of their visit.
-
The Anonimo (ed. Frizzoni, p. 95) gives a short account of the palace, which
he calls "the most beautiful house in Milan." He mentions the " Representations of