VITI ( DELLA VITA ) , (N% ve'ta). TM iura) (1467-1523). An Italian painter of the Umbrian school. He was born at Ferrara, and was the principal pupil of Francia, with whom he studied at Bologna, 1490415. He then settled at Urbino. where he stood in high favor with the reigning Duke and became chief magis trate of the town, residing there until his death in 1523. The position of Timoteo in the develop ment of Italian painting is one of the most interesting problems of modern research in art history. It was formerly supposed, on the all thority of Vasari, that after his tutelage with Francia Timoteo came under the influence of Raphael at Urbino, but Morelli has shown that who was much older than Raphael, was the teacher. His works show all those qualities which we call Raphaelesque: subtle grace of line, the harmonious balance of all elements, a rare poetic charm. Timoteo's earliest efforts show the influence of Francia and Costa ; as, for example, the "Madonna with Two (1495, Brera, Milan), formerly ascribed to Raphael; the beautiful figures of Saints Margaret (Bergamo) and Apollonia ; a "Madonna," with Saints John the Baptist and Sebastian ( Brent ) ; and the line altar-piece of the Cathedral of Urbino (1504). Gradually the Umbrian influence re
placed that of Francia ; and to this later period belong the "Al amla len" ( 1518. Pina !teen, Bologna ), a signed altarpiece at Cagli, and an other in the Cathedral of Gubbio. representing the "Legend of Magdalen" (1521). It is as serted by Vasari that Timoteo labored as Raphael's assistant in Santa Maria della Pace, but this statement is now generally discredited. Gil the other hand, Morelli's attribution of the designs for seventeen majolica plates from Castel Durante in the Correr Museum (Venice) seems more likely. Consult Morelli, Italian Painters: Critical Studies of Their Works, vol. ii. (London, 1892-93).