_Bartolommeo Montagna_ (Venetian: about 1450-1523).
Montagna was born near Brescia, and worked at Vicenza, but must
have studied at Venice.[185] "He is entitled," says Kugler,
"to a much higher place among the painters of the last part of
the fifteenth century than that hitherto accorded to him. His
art is distinct in character, with a firm outline and a bold,
sure hand; his colour is low but rich, bright, and gem-like. He
gives a grand, dignified expression and pose to his figures;
his draperies are generally arranged in broad folds, and his
landscape backgrounds, although minute, frequently denote
an original and poetical fancy." His best work is the great
altar-piece now in the Brera at Milan, a picture worthy to
rank with those of the same kind by Bellini and Carpaccio.
Other important works by Montagna are in the Public Gallery of
Bergamo, in the Museo Civico at Vicenza, and in the Pilgrimage
Church on Monte Berico, near Vicenza.
This picture is ascribed by some critics to Giovanni Speranza, a
painter of Vicenza contemporary with Montagna.