MELOZZO DA FORLI AT THE OLD MASTERS.
[To TEE EDITOR 01 THE "SPECTATOR."] SIR,—In reference to the picture by Melozzo da Forli, from her Majesty's collection at Windsor, which is spoken of with admiration by your art critic, "D. S. M.," a correspondent signing himself "C. R.," recently wrote to the Spectator :—" I turn to the 'Encyclopmdia Britannica,' and I find that
only three works are now extant which can safely be assigned to Melozzo,"—the picture in question not being one of the three named. The explanation by "D. S. M." would therefore be all the more interesting.
If your correspondent cares to enlarge his library of art reference, he will find the picture in question thus mentioneo in Morelli's "Italian Masters in German Galleries," page 249 in connection with a painting of the same series by the same master, now at Berlin, representing the patronage of science by Doke Frederic of Montefeltro at the Court of Urbino. "The other paintings of the set are in England, two at the National Gallery (Nos. 755 and 756), and one at Windsor Castle (Duke Frederic and his son, Guidobaldo, with his tutor, Victor of Feltre) on panel." In a note Morelli adds :—" This picture, which has seen rough usage, is of a different shape from the rest of the set, being doubtless adapted to the space it had to fill." See also Kugler, Layard's 1887 edition, Vol. I., p. 221.
Morelli's language will probably be plain enough for your correspondent, who will find it interesting reading if he likes his art criticism dry, and at the same time more diffuse than that of the " Encyclopmdia Brittanica."-=-I am, Sir, &c.,
C. J. CORNISH.
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