Dominican theologian, b. at Priero (Cuneo) in 1456, d. at Rome in 1527. He entered the Dominican Order at Genoa in 1471 and studied at Bologna, where he earned a doctorate in theology in 1498. Subsequently, he held various offices within the Order. In 1515, Leo X appointed him Master of the Sacred Apostolic Palace. In this capacity, he was at the forefront of the struggle against Luther.
As soon as Luther’s 95 Theses were published (31 Oct. 1517), Mazzolini wrote: *In praesumptuosas M. Lutheri conclusiones de potestate papae dialogus* (Rome 1518), in which, with a sometimes biting style and solid arguments, he expounded Catholic doctrine on the Church, the Pope, and indulgences. Luther responded with an invective. Mazzolini replied in a conciliatory tone with the *Epitome responsionis ad M. Lutherum* (ibid. 1519) and later with the more extensive work: *Errata et argumenta M. Lutheri recitata, detecta* (ibid. 1520; Florence 1521; Rome 1527), in which he revisits the theses on papal authority.
Mazzolini wrote other works as well. Among them may be cited: *Confiatum ex angelico doctore s. Thoma volumen primum* (Perugia 1519), a vast compilation...
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MAZZOLINO, Lodovico – Nativity – Rome, Borghese Gallery
The pathetic *Pietà* with its mountainous and wild backdrop, and the highly vigilant *Massacre of the Innocents* (in the upper right corner, a *Rest on the Flight into Egypt* of rare idyllic refinement), which alternates harsh chromatic contrasts and frenzied gestures with exquisite alabaster-like ornamentation, of distinctly Paduan aestheticism.