Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

192
HAMPTON COURT
VIII
The " Triumph of Cæsar " remains unique. Many
other Mantuan acquisitions may be traced in the
dispersion of Charles's collection, but few are still at
Hampton Court. Perhaps the charming S. Catherine
reading, a Correggio of exquisite grace, may have been
one which Lanier brought from Mantua for Charles,
but it is by no means certain.
We may turn also to the splendid and significant
Francia (No. 307), which it seems certain came from
Mantua. It is a baptism, greatly resembling that at
Dresden, which is dated 1509. In thebackground are
the crowds on the margin of the stream; the Lord
stands with hands in the attitude of prayer; S. John
with humble, attentive face bends to take the water
from the shallow stream in which He stands. Not
far from this is the picture called a " portrait of
Giovanni Bellinibyhimself " (No. 317), which is almost
certainly neither of nor by Bellini. Mr. Phillips
cannot " with confidence ascribe a name " toit: another
writer says it is certainly by Bissolo. In any case, it is
a characteristic piece of fifteenth-century Venetian art,
showing still, with all its damage, a fine feeling and
individuality.
To the fifteenth century belongs, too, that most
startling of contrasts, from the early Netherlands
painter, here coarsely humorous and incongruous,