Landscape

Pordenone

Summary

A reproduction produced by the Vasari Society of a drawing by Pordenone. The drawing shows two figures in a rural setting with a church in the background. The landscape is encased in an imagined oval frame. To the left is a cliff in front of which sit two figures looking at each other; the figure on the left faces forwards while the figure on the right turns his torso towards the left. In the centre middle ground is a tall tree, which grows to the top edge of the composition. In the centre background is a small house in front of a mountainous structure, and in the right background is a church on top of a hill. The original drawing was done in ink. Text from the accompanying booklet produced by the Vasari Society: "No. 10 PORDONE (b. 1483, d. 1539) LANDSCAPE Collection of Mr. Herbert P. Horne. Pen and ink (now of a dark bistre hue), on white (now discoloured) paper. 25.6 x 19.6 cm. (10 1/16 x 7 11/16 in.) This appears to be the only known drawing of a landscape by Pordone; a comparison with his other drawings, as that of the Adoration of the Magi in the British Museum (1889-8-6-309) leaves little doubt as to its authenticity. On the rock to the left, the artist has written 'Tera donbra,' i.e. 'Terra d'ombra' (umber); on the tree below, 'verde'; and below the hill in the distance on the right, 'Azuro.' These, apparently, are colour indications for the use of the assistant who was to execute the landscape. On the back of the drawing, in an early sixteenth-century hand (not that of indications on the face), is inscribed 'pordenon' in Venetian. Lastly, the drawing bears a collector's mark, P.H., which has not been identified. It was bought in London."