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252
Hereditary Genius
eminent landscape painter began life as an apprentice to a pastrycook, then
travelling valet, and afterwards cook to an artist. His progress in painting was
slow, but he had indomitable perseverance; was at the height of his fame aet.
30. He never married; he was too devoted to his profession to do so.
[B.] A carver in wood.
Mazzuoli, Francesco, called “II Parmegiano” (1504—1541, aet. 37). This great
colourist and graceful and delicate painter made such great progress as a
student, though ill-taught, that aet. 16 his painting was the astonishment of
contemporary artists. According to Vasari, it was said at Rome that “the soul
of Raffaelle had passed into the person of Parmegiano.” It is stated that when
at the height of his fame he became seized with the mania of alchemy, and
wasted his fortune and health in searching for the philosopher's stone.
[F. and 2 U.] Filippo Mazzuoli, and Michele and Pier Ilario, were all three of them
artists, but obscure.
(?) US. Girolamo, son of Michele, and scholar of Parmegiano; he married a cousin,
the daughter of Pier Ilario. He was a painter of some success. The ? is
appended to his letter because it has been said that he was not a relation at all.
It is singular to note the contradictions about the family concerns of the
painters. There is less known of their domestic history than of any other class
of eminent men except musicians.
[uP. (and also? UP).] Alessandro, son of Girolamo, and his scholar. He was but an
inferior artist.
Mieris, Francis (the Elder), (1635—1681, aet. 46). “It is too much, with all his
merits, to say he is superior to, or even equal with, Gerard Dow; his admirers
should be content with placing him at the head of the next rank.”
S. John Miens; despaired of equalling his father in minuteness and delicacy, so he
followed historical painting and portraiture; died aet. 30.
S. William Mieris; was an able artist aet. 18, and was scarcely inferior to his father
in the exquisite finish of his pictures.
[P.] Francis Mieris (the Younger), son of William; a painter in the same style as his
father, but decidedly inferior to him.
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