, so called from Castel Bolognese in the Romania, where he was born
, so called from Castel Bolognese in the Romania, where he
was born in 1495, distinguished himself for his admirable
skill in engraving on precious stones. After having resided
for several years with Alphonso duke of Ferrara, where his
works excited universal admiration, he went to Rome, and
attached himself to the cardinal Hyppolito de Medicis,
whose friendship he preferred to the brilliant offers made
by Charles V. who was very desirous of his residing in
Spain. At Rome, Bernard executed some medals in honour of Clement VII. of such exquisite beauty, as to meet
with the applause even of his rivals. Among the chefsd'oeuvre which he left, are two engravings on crystal,
which have been particularly noticed by connoisseurs. The
subjects are the “Fall of Phaeton,
” and “Tityus with
the vulture,
” from designs by Michael Angelo, both which
were thought to approach to the perfection of the ancients.
Enriched by the patronage of cardinal de Medicis, and
esteemed by all who knew him, he passed his latter days in
a charming retreat, at Faenza, which he had enriched
with a fine collection of pictures, and where he died in
1555.