Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-03-24
MISCELLANY.
Solario, the Italian Painter.


SolRrio, the Italian Painter.
Solario dc Antonio was originally gipsy,
or wandering tinker, and 1t was in this char
acter he first made his appearance, in the be-
ginning of the fifteenth century, In Naples
lie was then in the habit OF going from street
to street and from house to house in way of
his peculiar craft. While in that city, he by
chance got some jobs to do in the house Of
Colantonio del Fiere, distinguished painter
This painter had a beautiful daughter the
young lady was seen by Sulario, who ut first
sight fell in love with her. The tinker
though OF humble origin and pursuing me-
NAL calling, carried with him warm heart
and bold, enthusiastic mind This was
eynced by his taking the courageous step of
going to Colantonio and actually asking him
for the hand Of his daughter in marriage
His application. was treated with ridicule by
Colantcnio, who, by way of cxtinguishing
the poor gipsy.s hopes told him that he
meant to bcstow his daughter only upon some
one who was as good painter as himself
- Then will you accept Of me" said Solario,
I" for your son-in-law, if after certain time
| should present myself with that qualifca-
ton Will you give me ten years to learn
to paint, and 50 to entitlc myself to the hand
of your daughter - The painter, thinking
he was not hazarling much by agreeing to
such proposal, and wishing to get rid of the
impetuous opportunities Of the tinker, which
were becoming rather alarming, acceded to
Solario's request on condition that he left
Naples, and did not show his face for that
number of wears. The agreement having
been ratified by respectable witnesses, one Of
whom was princess, the reigning Kings Sis
ter, who perhaps joined in the affair for the
fun of it, Solario left Naples for Rome, but
no one there would encourage him in his
pursuit of art and love under difficulties
Hearing of Lippo Dalmasi a painter of Bo-
logna, he repaired thither Lippo also at
tempted to discourage him; but not to be
bafiled with difficulties or deferred by ridicue,
he pressed his application so perseveringly,
employing even tears to aid his entreaties,
that the reluctant painter was at last induced
to admit him as pupil. But all difficulties
were not yet at an end. He wac poor, and to
supply his necessities he would frequently go
| to the neighboring villages in his profession
of tinker, and return with unquenched ardor
to the performance of the higher duties of
the artist. His application was as unceasing
as his progress was unquestionable. He had
not been with Lippo long before his master
and fellow-students saw that he had with him
the germs of genius and sufficient industry
and enthusiasm to ultimately insure success
and those who at first laughed at him for his
adventurous love, now encouraged him to
persevere with unceasing activity in the
great work to which he had luckily commit
ted himself. He remained six or seven years
with Lippo, and then left Bologna to visit the
other great cities of Italy, with view to
improve himself in his art by studying the
various styles of the great masters. lie spent
three years in this way, during which time
he visited Florence, Ferara, Venice and
! Ry inn ha hoH plx
penetrated with II love of his art, and wher,
ever he went he felt more inspired for Italy
in that age was consecrated by the presence
of Genius, and the atmosphere of its cities
was redoent with incense offered at the shrine
of the Beautiful. After an absence of nine
years and some months, Solario returned tC
Naples as stranger, but with letters of IN.
PRODUCTION to some of the distinguished fam
lilies of that city. He brought with him
Madonna and Child Of his own drawing, anc
presented them to his former patroness, tn,
princess, who, during the interval had becom'
queen. Ascertaining that he had painte,
the beautiful picture, she sat to him for he
portrait, which Solario painted with exacti
tude and finish. When her Majesty had ex
pressed her appreciation of the picture, So
larlo threw himself at her feet, and asked he
if she recollected the wandering gipsy who
ten years before, had the honor of being ad
mitted to her presence, and in whose fortun
she had then been pleased to take an interest
The qTeen, after closely observing him. an
calling memory to her assistance, saw tina
he was indeed the very man. She imme
diately sent for Colantonio, and asked him hi
opinion OF her newly-painted portrait. Tn
old artist extolled it beyond measure. 0
: her Majesty asking him whether he wouJ
not prefer giving his daughter to one VIII
could so paint, than wait any longer for tn
retrun of the gypsy, Of whom for so long
time he had heard nothing, too glad of bein
) released from his engagement, the Neapolita
painter eagerly expressed his assent to tn
proposal. Solario was then called from b,
hind the curtain, where he had been lister
ing to the whole Of the conversation, and va
introduced to Colantonio by the queen as
l. who had been the gipsy, but who, by h
% matchless industry, and unquenchable love
u art and the old gentleman daughter, ha
hcroically smittcn down difficulties, and r
allied his magnificent dream by becoming
great painter. Coantonio, struck with a
tonishment, saw before him the very face al
form which had 30 earnestly asked for
daughter hand ten years before, and ovo
come by his feelings, he fell on the neck
the transformed tinker, and kissed him, al
said, that if his ancestry did not deserve
daughter, his art did.
Solario, in the full flush Of triumph, W
introduced to the lady towards whom b
heart had 80 long aspired, and whose hapI
ness 1t was his high ambition to promote.
They soon went she in her beauty, and he
!, his pride, to tho altar, and there mutual
pledged themselves to union which h
r been SO nobly struggled for and so worth