Niccola da Bari (dell’ Arca). 1414?-1494
Matteo Civitali. 1435-1501.
Giovanni Antonio Omodeo (Amadeo). 1447-1522.
Niccolo, born in Bari, in Southern Italy, is known chiefly by his work on the shrine of St. Dominic. All of the work attributed to him is in Bologna, including an equestrian relief in the Bentivoglio Chapel of S. Giacomo Maggiore and a relief of the Madonna on the façade of the Palazzo Comunale.
Matteo Civitali was born in Lucca but studied in Florence. His chief works are found in his native town, among them a St. Sebastian and several tombs in the Cathedral. Six life size statues, of uneven quality, are in the Cathedral of Genoa. Civitali’s ability as an architect is seen in the beautiful octagonal Chapel of the Volto Santo in the early Renaissance style in the cathedral of Lucca.
Omodeo (Amadeo), chief of Lombard sculptors, was born in Pavia. His principal works were the chapel and tombs for Colleoni, the Borromeo tombs on the Isola Bella, and the decorative work for the Certosa of Pavia. In 1490 he served as chief architect for the cathedral of Milan.
NOTES ON THE PICTURES.
No. 497. Kneeling Angel with Candlestick.
S. Domenico, Bologna.
Niccola da Bari is often called dell’ Arca from his work upon the shrine of St. Dominic, the completed form of which he designed and practically finished in 1469-1473. See 384, the picture of the whole. The upper portion, with the garland held by putti, and the kneeling angel at the left are his work; the angel at the right is by Michelangelo, C 441. The heavy garlands suggest the decorations by Desiderio, 471.
No. 486. Altar of St. Regulus.
No. 487. Feast of Herod.
Matteo Civitali’s chief work, made in 1484. He was very possibly influenced by the Rossellini and other Florentine artists. This altar-tomb, when compared with the Florentine tombs, shows his interests to be on the side of sculpture. The figures of the bishop saint with John and Sebastian are in niches; below are reliefs relating to each.
No. 488. Faith.
Three Virtues by Civitali were said to have been on S. Michele, Lucca. This is possibly one.
Study the symbolism and sentiment of this marble panel. Study its technical qualities and compare with Florentine work.
SCULPTORS OUTSIDE OF FLORENCE 203
No. 498. Tomb of Bartolommeo Colleoni.
No. 499. Seated Warriors : detail.
No. 500. Tomb of Medea Colleoni.
Colleoni Chapel, Bergamo.
In 1470-1476, Omodeo was employed by Colleoni on the ornate family chapel adjoining S. Maria Maggiore, and on the tomb to himself. The beautiful tomb to Colleoni’s daughter, who died in girlhood, an earlier work, was brought here from Basella.
The gilded equestrian figure is of wood carved by a German artist. The seated warriors are portraits of his three sons-in-law.
Compare with other tombs architecturally and sculpturally.
Omodeo’s work at Pavia is found in connection with that of other sculptors of the Certosa, C 424-430.