Antonio Solario

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Antonio Solario, also known as Lo Zingaro (The Gypsy) (c. 1465 – 1530), was an Italian Romani painter of the Neapolitan school.

His father is said to have been a traveling smith. To all appearance Antonio was born at Civita in the Abruzzi, although it is true that one of his pictures is signed Antonio de Solario Venetus, which may possibly be accounted for on the ground that the signature is not genuine. Solario is said to have gone through a love-adventure similar to that of the Flemish painter, Quentin Massys.

He was at first a smith, and worked in the house of the prime Neapolitan painter Colantonio del Fiore; he fell in love with Colantonio's daughter, and she with him; and the father, to stave him off, said if he would come back in ten years an accomplished painter the young lady should he his. Solario studied the art, returned in nine years, and claimed and obtained his bride. Colantonio del Fiore was active as early as 1400, as evidenced by a signed and dated painting of a figure on board previously part of the Jacobs Collection housed at the Oakland (CA) Art Museum.

Solario made an extensive round of study first with Lippo Dalmasio in Bologna, and afterwards in Venice, Ferrara, Florence and Rome. On returning to Naples he rapidly took the first place in his art.

His principal performance is in the court of the monastery of St Severino, twenty large frescoes illustrating the life of St Benedict, now greatly decayed; they present a vast variety of figures all in details, with dexterous modeling and coloring. Sometimes, however, Lo Zingaros color is rude, and he generally shows weakness of draughtsmanship in hands and feet. His tendency is that of a naturalist the heads lifelike and individual, and the landscape backgrounds better invented and cared for than in any contemporary.

In the study gallery of Naples are three pictures attributed to this master, the most remarkable one being a Madonna and Child, Enthroned with Saints. The heads here are reputed to be mostly portraits. Solario initiated a mode of art new in Naples; and the works painted between his time and that of Tesauro (c. 1470) are locally termed Zingareschi. He had many scholars, but not of pre-eminent standing Nicola Vito, Simone Papa, Angiolillo Roccadirame, Pietro and Ippolito dal Donzello. It has often been said that Solario painted in oil, but of this there is no evidence.

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