Page:Cyclopedia of painters and paintings (IA cyclopediaofpain04cham).pdf/94

 ROSSITER, THOMAS P., born in New Haven, Conn., Sept. 29, 1818, died at Cold Spring, N. Y., May 17, 1871. History painter, pupil of Nathaniel Jocelyn; went to Europe in 1840 and studied in London and Paris. In 1841-46 he painted in Rome, and sketched in Switzerland, Italy, and Germany; visited Europe again in 1853, and painted three years in Paris. Professional life in the United States spent in New York and at Cold Spring. Elected an A.N.A. in 1840, and N.A. in 1849. Gold medal, Paris, 1855. Works: Last Hours of Tasso; Italy in the Olden Time; Miriam; Return of the Dove to the Ark; Jews in Captivity; Joan of Arc in Prison, Puritan's Daughter, R. L. Stuart, New York; Wise and Foolish Virgins; Venice; Noah; Representative Merchants; Coming from the Fields; Palmy Days at Mt. Vernon; Washington's First Cabinet; Life of Christ (series of pictures); Rebekah at the Well, Corcoran Gallery, Washington.—Tuckerman, 435.

ROSSO, IL, or ROSSO DE' ROSSI, born in Florence, March 8, 1494, died at Fontainebleau, France, 1541. Florentine school; real name Giovanni Battista di Jacopo di Guasparre, but commonly called by the Italians Il Rosso, and by the French, Maître Roux de Roux, which would seem to show that Roux was his family name, and not a surname given to him because his hair was red. Imitator of Andrea del Sarto and of Michelangelo. After painting frescos in Florence he went to Rome and worked there several years, until obliged to leave on the capture of the city by the Constable de Bourbon (1527). About 1531 he went to Paris, at the invitation of Francis I., who made him court painter, and employed him to direct the decoration of the great gallery in the Palace of Fontainebleau. His large salary enabled him to live in luxury, and his good address and polished manners made him a favourite at court Having unjustly accused his friend and assistant, Francesco di Pellegrino, of stealing money from him, and caused him to be put to the torture, Il Rosso poisoned himself to escape dishonour. All his works at Fontainebleau have disappeared. Among his pictures are: Entombment, Contest between Muses and Pierides, Louvre; Madonna with Saints, Palazzo Pitti, Florence; Assumption, SS. Annunziata, Florence; Marriage of the Virgin, S. Lorenzo, ib.; Venus, Ceres, Pluto, Diana, Zeus, Oldenburg Gallery; Madonna with Angels, Hermitage, St. Petersburg.—Vasari, ed. Le Mon., ix. 67; ed. Mil., v. 155; Burckhardt, 636, 640; Ch. Blanc, École florentine; Mündler, Essai, 187.

ROTARI, PIETRO, Conte, born in Verona in 1707, died in St. Petersburg in 1770 (?). Pupil in Verona of Balestra, in Rome of Trevisani (1728-31), and in Naples of Solimena, whose manner he followed. Venetian school; painted with much success at courts of Dresden and Vienna, and in 1750 became court painter to the Empress Elizabeth of Russia. At Peterhoff is a collection of 663 female portraits made by him for Catharine II. during a journey through the Russian provinces. Other works: Annunciation, Guastella; Repose in Egypt, St. James, St. Francis, Magdalen, and two portraits, Dresden Gallery; Young Girl Weeping, do. Asleep, Old Pinakothek, Munich; Two Portraits, Schleissheim Gallery.—Lanzi, ii. 310; Ch. Blanc, École vénitienne.

ROTHERMEL, PETER F., born in Luzerne County, Pa., July 8, 1817. History painter; began painting portraits without tuition in 1840, in 1856 visited Europe, and has since lived and painted in Philadelphia; is an associate of the Pennsylvania Academy. Works: St. Agnes (1858); Foscari; Columbus before Isabella; Cromwell breaking up