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LIPPI

Volume 12 · 192 words · 1815 Edition

LORENZO, a painter of history and portraits, was born in 1606, and learned the principles of painting from Matteo Roffelli. He had an exquisite genius for music and poetry, as well as for painting, and in the latter his proficiency was so great, that some of his compositions in the historical style were taken for those of Roffelli. However, growing at last dissatisfied with the manner of that master, he chose the manner of Santi di Titi, who was excellent both in design and invention, and appeared to have more of simple nature and truth in his compositions than any other artist of that time. At Florence Lippi painted many grand designs for the chapels and convents, by which he enlarged his reputation; and at the court of Innspruck, he painted a great number of portraits of the first nobility, bility, which were deservedly admired. Yet, although he was fond of imitating simple nature without any embellishments from invention, his works are held in the highest esteem for the graceful airs of the heads, for the correctness of his outline, and for the elegant disposition of the figures. He died in 1664.