Venetian painter, c.1476/8 - 1510
Vasari's knowledge of Giorgione's career and works was rudimentary; Giorgione painted largely for the Venetian aristocracy, to whose private collections the friend of Florentine and Roman nobles did not have access.
That Vasari recognised his importance as a painter is signalled by Giorgione's presence in the trio of Leonardo, Giorgione and Correggio, who introduce the third age of painting.
I shall adopt the amateur's privilege of idle speculation and include the pictures that might have caught the Tuscan eye.
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"In his youth he executed in Venice many Madonnas and portraits. these were vigorous and beautiful pictures..." Adoration of the Magi |
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Adoration of the Shepherds |
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Madonna with the Child, St Anthony of Padua and St Roch |
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Portrait of a young man (Antonio Broccardo) |
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Portrait of an old woman |
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Laura |
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"Giorgione loved to paint frescoes...[so when] the Fondaco dei Tedeschi was completely burnt, the Signoria decreed that it should be rebuilt [and that] Giorgione should colour it in fresco as he wished..." I-275 The frescoes have nearly vanished - Vasari refers to a figure like a Judith, who "might stand for Germania" Judith (oil on panel) |
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"Giorgione did a picture showing Christ carrying the cross with a Jew who is tugging him, which was eventually placed in the church of San Rocco." I-275 Vasari also gives this painting to Titian Christ carrying the cross |
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"Giorgione worked in various places, including Castelfranco and the territory of Treviso;" I-275 Castelfranco altarpiece |
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Saint in armour (based on left figure in the Castelfranco altarpiece) |
Giorgio Vasari
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