Alessandro Allori
Alessandro Allori (1535--1607), an Italian
painter of the
Florentine school, was brought up and trained in art by his uncle,
Angelo Bronzino, whose name he sometimes assumed in his
pictures. Visiting
Rome in his nineteenth year, he carefully
studied the works of
Michelangelo; but the influence of that
great master can only be traced in the anatomical correctness
of his drawing of nude figures. He was successful as a portrait
painter. His son CRISTOFANO ALLORI (1577-1621), born at
Florence, received his first lessons in painting from his father,
but becoming dissatisfied with the hard anatomical drawing and
cold colouring of the latter, he entered the studio of [[Gregorio
Pagani]] (1558-1605) who was one of the leaders of that later
Florentine school which endeavoured to unite the rich colouring
of the Venetians with the correct drawing of Michelangelo's
disciples. Allori became one of the foremost of this school.
His pictures are distinguished by their close adherence to
nature and the delicacy and technical perfection of their
execution. His technical skill is proved by the fact that
several copies he made after
Correggio have been taken to be
duplicates by Correggio himself. His extreme fastidiousness
limited his power of production, though the number of his works
is not so small as is sometimes asserted. Several specimens
are to be seen at Florence and elsewhere. The finest of
all his works is his "Judith and Holofernes," in the [[Pitti
Palace]]. The model for the Judith was his mistress, the beautiful
Mazzafirra, who is also represented in his Magdalene; and the
head of Holofernes is generally supposed to represent himself.
Initial text from 1911 encyclopedia -- Please update as needed