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Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume 3 (of 3) / Illustrating the Arms, Arts, and Literature of Italy, from 1440 To 1630 cover

Memoirs of the Dukes of Urbino, Volume 3 (of 3) / Illustrating the Arms, Arts, and Literature of Italy, from 1440 To 1630

Chapter 21: CHAPTER LI
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About This Book

This volume traces successive dukes of Urbino, recounting political and military episodes — including the sack of Rome, the erosion of Italian autonomy, and regional campaigns — alongside detailed biographical sketches, court intrigues, and dynastic succession. It then surveys the duchy’s cultural life, examining literary figures, academies, and painters and sculptors connected to the court, assesses factors in the decline of Italian art, and describes the manufacture of local majolica. Extensive appendices reproduce correspondence, official documents, inventories, and inscriptions that illuminate negotiations, military events, and the composition of the ducal collections.

CHAPTER XLIII

1552. Marriage of Princess Elisabetta106
 The Duke's domestic affairs107
 He builds the palace at Pesaro108
1555. The bigotry and ambitious nepotism of Paul IV.109
 He sends Guidobaldo against the Colonna109
1557.Aug. 26.Rome nearly taken111
1558.April 9.He receives an engagement from Spain and the Golden Fleece111
 The terms of his service111
1565. He sends his son to Spain112
 His Discourse against the Turk113
1570. His great expenses113
1572. Consequent increase of imposts113
 Which occasions an insurrection at Urbino114
 It is repressed by stringent measures115
1573. Severities against the guilty116
 The humiliation of the city117
 The blot attaching to the Duke's memory from these events120
 Letter of remonstrance to him120
1574.Sept. 28.His death and character122
 His children125

CHAPTER XLIV

  The autobiography of Duke Francesco Maria II.129
1549.Feb. 20.His birth and education130
1565. He goes to Spain by Genoa131
1568. His account of Don Carlos's imprisonment133
July 11.His return home by Milan134
 His studious habits135
1571.Jan.His marriage to Lucrezia d'Este announced by himself135
Early coldness136
Congratulatory letters on the occasion137
 Protestant doctrines at Ferrara139
 He joins the Turkish expedition139
 His account of the sea-fight at Lepanto140
1574.Sep. 28.He succeeds to the dukedom142
 Ceremonial of his investiture142
 Letter of advice from Girolamo Muzio144
 The difficulties of his position149
 Overcome by prudence and moderation149
 A conspiracy against him discovered150

CHAPTER XLV

1577. Unsatisfactory results of his marriage152
 His separation from the Duchess153
 His autograph Diary155
1582. He is taken into the Spanish service156
 And receives the title of "Most Serene"157
1583. Marriage of his Sister Princess Lavinia157
 He builds the Videtta Villa157
1586. And obtains the Golden Fleece158
 List of officers at his court159
1588. His fondness for the chase160
1589. Other pastimes of his court161
 His literary pursuits162
 His hospitalities. Galileo163
1597.Oct.Death of the last Duke of Ferrara164
1598.Feb. 11.And of the Duchess of Urbino165
 Clement VIII. visits Urbino166
 His desire for the Duke's abdication166
 The Duke's retired habits167
 The anxiety of his people for his remarriage167
 His singular appeal to them168
1599.April 26.He marries Livia della Rovere169
1602.Dec. 13.Death of Duchess Vittoria171

CHAPTER XLVI

1605.May 16.Birth of Prince Federigo173
Universal joy of the people174
The Duke's pilgrimage of thanks to Loreto176
19.Baptism of the Prince, amid festive pageants176
1606. The Duke's breeding stud180
 His aversion to business, and retired habits180
 Castel Durante his favourite residence181
 He appoints a council of state183
 A glance at the constitution establishments of Urbino185
1607. The unfortunate education of the Prince189
 His father's code of instructions to him189
1608. His unpromising youth194

CHAPTER XLVII

1608. His betrothal to Princess Claudia de' Medici196
1610. His dissolute habits197
1616. He visits Florence198
1617. Court pastimes at Urbino199
1621.April 29.The Prince's marriage concluded199
 Reception of the bridal pair201
 Francesco Maria resigns the administration of his state to the Prince202
 And retires to Urbania203
1622. The Prince's reckless career, and debauched life204
1623.June 29.His sudden death207
The Duke's resignation208
 Ominous warnings209
 Monumental inscription to the Prince210
1622.July 27.Birth of his daughter Vittoria210
1623. Princess Claudia returns to her family211
 The Duke rouses himself212
 The difficulties of his position213
Aug. 8.Election of Pope Urban VIII.214
1624. The Duke's negotiations with the Holy See214
 Intrigues and threats employed against him216
 He arranges the Devolution of his state to the Holy See219
 To which the people gave no consent220
1628. The terms of surrender ill kept222

CHAPTER XLVIII

 The Duke's monkish seclusion at Urbania224
1631.April 28.His death there225
 His funeral226
 Notices of his character by Donato, Gozze, and Passeri227
 His appearance and portrait230
 Letters of his domestic circle232
 Notices of Princess Vittoria239
 And of Duchess Livia239
 The Duke's will, and the amount of his succession239
 His libraries241
1658. The MSS. carried to the Vatican242
 The printed books transported to the Sapienza at Rome244
 Probable number of MSS.244
1631. The duchy incorporated with the Ecclesiastical States245
  To the great misfortune of the people246
  Conclusion248

CHAPTER XLIX

1400.The glory and progress of Italy while divided into many states253
1492-1530.Her long struggle against foreign aggression is closed in servitude253
1533-1600.Spanish domination fatal to manners, language, and literature254
This evil augmented by the Academies255
The Assorditi of Urbino255
The influence of the Reformation, how excluded from Italian letters257
The age of rhetoricians and fulsome compliment257
Mathematics and engineering studied at Urbino259
1509-1575.Federigo Comandino of Urbino260
1544. Guidobaldo Marchese del Monte262
1529-1591.Francesco Paciotti of Urbino262
-1560.Gian Giacomo Leonardi of Pesaro264
1569-1639.Muzio Oddi of Urbino265
1553-1612.Bernardino Baldi of Urbino, his vast acquirements and numerous works266
  His Lives of Dukes of Urbino273
1496-1576.Girolamo Muzio of Capo d'Istria, biographer of the Dukes274
1555-1602.Federigo Bonaventura of Urbino277

CHAPTER L

  Facilities of Italian versification278
  Absence of traditionary ballads279
1508-1600.Poetry flourishes at Urbino280
1474-1533.Ludovico Ariosto280
 1515.He visits Urbino; his room in the palace there281
The qualities of his poetry286
1492-1557.Pietro Aretino, "scourge of princes"287
  Mediocrity of his poetry, and baseness of his character288
1490-1547.Vittoria Colonna, Marchioness of Pescara291
Her devotional character and poetry292
1522. Laura Battiferri of Urbino294
  Other bards of that court294
  Dionigi Atanagi; specimens of his verses295
  Antonio Galli and Marco Montani of Urbino297
1493-1569.Bernardo Tasso298
  His early irregularities and services298
1531. Enters that of the Prince of Salerno299
1539. His marriage and happy residence at Sorrento299
1544.March.Birth of his son Torquato300
1552. Becomes a wanderer on his patron's disgrace300
1556. Death of his wife301
1556. His appeal to the Prince301
 Reaches Pesaro, where he resides for two years302
1557. Reads his Amadigi at that court303
1559.Sept. 28.Torquato intimates his death to the Duke of Urbino305
  His poetry and correspondence305
  His invention of the Ode306

CHAPTER LI

  Torquato Tasso, a subject of mystery and contradiction308
  Count Alberti's recent impositions311
  Dr. Andrea Verga's theory of his insanity312
  Is sufficient justification of the Duke of Ferrara313
1556. Torquato's arrival at Pesaro313
  His early devotion to the muses314
1565. His first visit to Ferrara314
  His compliments to the family of Urbino in the Rinaldo315
  His devotion to Princess Lucrezia d'Este, afterwards Duchess of Urbino316
1571. His sonnet to her, and canzone on her marriage318
1573. His Aminta performed at Pesaro318
1574. His dangerous intercourse with her at Urbania319
 She is separated from the Duke and returns to Ferrara320
1575. Tasso at Florence,—his portrait321
1576. Symptoms of mental disease321
1577. Outbreak of insanity321
1578. He seeks shelter at Pesaro from imaginary wrongs321
 His canzone to the Duke321
  His long letter to him323
1579. He is shut up in the hospital of Sta. Anna at Ferrara for seven years326
1587-1594.His subsequent wanderings326
  Are closed at Rome327
1595.April 25.His farewell letter and death at S. Onofrio327
  Retrospect of his life328
  His rivalry with Ariosto329
  His the latest of Italy's great names330
1537-1611.Battista Guarini of Ferrara331
1602-1604.Invited to Urbino332

CHAPTER LII

1470-1520.The fine arts especially felt the impulse given to mind before 1500335
1520-1600.Tendency of the "new manner" to exaggeration and artifice338
1520-1600.New classes of subjects leading to new errors341
Art under the patronage of the della Rovere became prolific345
1476-1551.Girolamo della Genga of Urbino, painter, architect, and engineer347
The decorations of the imperial palace349
1518-1558.Bartolomeo della Genga of Urbino, engineer352

CHAPTER LIII

1529-1566.Taddeo Zuccaro of S. Angelo in Vado, painter355
He paints at Urbino, Rome, and Caprarola356
1543-1608.Federigo Zuccaro, painter357
  His precocity and rapid execution358
  Paints at Rome, Venice, and Florence358
  Is compromised by his satirical picture of Calumny360
1574. Visits England and paints portraits360
  Also Spain, where he was less successful361
1583. His ideas of religious art364
1593. Chosen first president of St. Luke's Academy at Rome366
  His house there366
  His writings367
  The paintings of the brothers Zuccaro367
  Their pupils and followers in the duchy368
  The Barocci a family of artists369
1528-16.Federigo Baroccio of Urbino370
  Is poisoned by jealous rivals371
  His best works372
  His manner374
  His pupils377
1560-1644.Claudio Ridolfi379
  Painters of Gubbio380

CHAPTER LIV

1474-1563.Michael Angelo's monument of Julius II.381
His style and influence386
His monuments of the Medici388
1477-1576. Titian patronised by the Dukes of Urbino390
  His paintings for that court391
  His Venus395
  His letter to Duke Guidobaldo II.397
1544-1628.Palma Giovane398
-1560.Gianbattista Franco il Semolei399
  Sculptures executed for Urbino400

CHAPTER LV

  Cultivation of the mechanical arts in Italy403
  Watchmaking at Urbino403
  Origin of majolica or earthenware405
  Influence of Luca della Robbia406
  Majolica of Pesaro407
  Finer qualities introduced there410
  The drug-vases at Loreto411
  Subjects for majolica painting412
  Decline of the art413
  Manufactory of it at Urbino414
  And at Gubbio414
  The forms and applications of majolica-ware415
  Mottoes upon it416
  Artists chiefly employed419
  Was Raffaele among them?422
  Collections of majolica424

APPENDICES

1572.April 20.Brief from Clement VII. to Duke Francesco Maria I.427
May 7.Letter from the Bishop of Moldula to the confederate leaders at the sack of Rome429
20.Letter written from Urbino detailing the sack429
24.Despatch to Charles V. detailing it433
July 9.Letter of Duke Francesco Maria I. justifying himself to the Signory of Venice444
1525-1527.Castiglione's negotiations at the Court of Madrid448
1571. Don John of Austria's armado at Lepanto452
1666. Indulgences belonging to a Corona456
1442. Monumental inscription to Count Guidantonio458
1444. To Duke Oddantonio459
1482. To Duke Federigo459
1508. To Duke Guidobaldo I.459
1538. To Duke Francesco Maria I.460
1574. To Duke Guidobaldo II.460
1602. To Duchess Vittoria460
1578. To Cardinal Giulio della Rovere461
1523. To Prince Federigo461
1531. To Duke Francesco Maria II.461
1632. To Princess Lavinia della Rovere462
  Statistics of Urbino463
  Revenues of the Duchy464
  Its population466
  Pietro Aretino's Sonnets on Titian's portraits of Duke Francesco Maria I. and the Duchess Leonora470
  Petition to Guidobaldo II. from the majolica makers of Pesaro472
  Letters from the Archbishop of Urbino to Cardinal Giulio della Rovere concerning a service of majolica474
  List of pieces475
  Collection of art made by the Dukes of Urbino476
  Pelli's list478
  Venturi's list485
  The Pesaro list488