Domenichino

Domenichino, or DOMENICO ZAMPIERI, a celebrated painter of the Bolognese school, was born at Bologna in 1581. He began his studies under Denis Calvaert, and completed them under the Caracci. During the whole of his career, Domenichino had much to suffer from the jealousy of rivals, who are not free from the suspicion of having caused his death by poison (1641). Though his artistic fame has greatly diminished during recent years, it must be admitted that his works are distinguished by correctness of design, that the heads of his figures in particular are expressive and forcible, and that his draperies are rich and varied in arrangement. The masterpiece of Domenichino, the 'Communion of St Jerome,' 1614 (an easel-picture in the Vatican), though suggested by Agostino Caracci's rendering of the subject, is an accomplished and powerful production. His 'Diana and her Nymphs,' 'Guardian Angel,' 'St John,' and 'St Sebastian,' also rank among his finer productions, and the 'Cure of the Demoniac Boy,' at Grotta Ferrata, is one of the most admired of his frescoes. Out of Italy, the museum of the Louvre possesses the largest number of Domenichino's works.