Dolci

Dolci, CARLO or CARLINO, a celebrated painter of the Florentine school, was born at Florence in 1616. He received his first instructions in art from Jacopo Vignali, a pupil of Roselli, and a remarkably skilful teacher. After an uneventful life spent entirely in his native city, Dolci died January 17, 1686. His works, which consist chiefly of madonnas and saints, exhibit the character attributed to him. The faces are full of a pleasing and tender softness, which, however, is often carried so far as to rob them of all character. Dolci's drawing is generally correct, his colouring exquisitely delicate and transparent, and in the nicety and laborious care of his finish he approaches the most characteristic examples of the Dutch school. His works are numerous, and scattered over all Europe. Besides his madonnas, the most famous are his 'St Cecilia,' 'Christ Blessing the Bread and Wine,' and 'Herodias with the Head of John the Baptist,' in Dresden.