his house were found effects of an immense value, in jewels, gold, pictures, policies of insurance, &c., as I have shown in the life of Titian, with whom his son shared one common fate. APPENDIX. No. I. FROM ANNIBAL CARACCI TO LOUIS CARACCI. Parma, 28th April 1580. WHEN Agostino comes, he will be welcome; we shall live in peace, we shall busy ourselves in copying those fine things, but I hope for God's sake, without any dispute, without so many subtilties and so many words. Let us apply all our attention to catching, as well as we can, the fine manner of Correggio; that is our principal affair, so as one day to be able to mortify all that bonnetted canaille which is always attacking us as if we were assassins. . . . . The opportunities which Agostino wished for are not to be found: this country, which one would not suppose to be so devoid of good taste, appears to me to have no pleasures or resources for a painter. All the people think of is making love out of doors, and eating and drinking within. I promised, Sir, on my departure, to give you my opinion on every thing I should see. But the fact is, that I find it impossible, so confused are my ideas. I am become quite foolish; I weep and experience the most cruel vexation when left to myself. I think of the misfortunes of poor Correggio. So great a man-if indeed he was one, and not rather an angel on earth-to lose himself, to waste away in a country where he was not known! That Correggio, who ought to have been lifted to the skies, should die here in so miserable a manner! O Correggio! O Titian! I shall always cherish you! And till I go to Venice, and see thy works there, oh Titian! I shall not die happy. Let people say 'what they will, those are the true painters: I now see it, and acknowledge the justness of what you said about it. But still I don't quite understand it, so do not altogether admit it as yet. That purity and simplicity which are so true without being obvious, please me much. It is nature, artless and unconstrained. Such is Raphael. Let every body take it according to his own feelings that is what I do; and though I can't well explain myself, I know what I'm about, and that is enough. The great Corporal has been to see me twice, and he would take me to his house to show me your beautiful St Margaret and St Dorothea. By God, those are beautiful half-figures! I asked him what he had done with your two other pictures, and he said he had sold them very advantageously. He says he will take all the heads I shall do after the cupola of Correggio, and also any others from pictures by the same artist. He will introduce me to private houses, if I wish to share that advantage with him. I told him I would do every thing |