Sebastiano del Piombo

Sebastiano del Piombo, Italian painter, whose family name was LUCIANI, and who got his nickname 'Of the Seal' (Piombo) because at the accession of his patron, Ginlio de' Medici, as pope (Clement VII.) in 1523 he was given the office of sealer of papal briefs. He was born at Venice in 1485, and learned the art of painting from Giovanni Bellini and Giorgione. After painting a St Chrysostom for the church of that saint in Venice, Sebastiano was taken to Rome by Agostino Chigi (q.v.) about 1512. He helped to decorate Chigi's palace of Farnesina with frescoes illustrating classical mythology, and by his excellence as a colourist won the esteem and friendship of Michelangelo. The two seem then to have worked in conjunction, Sebastiano carrying out in colour designs and drawings made by Michelangelo. Amongst the fruits of this artistic partnership three pictures at least are of the highest rank—viz. 'The Raising of Lazarus' (in the London National Gallery), and a couple of scenes from the last days of Christ (in the church of St Peter in Montorio at Rome). Sebastiano, who possessed no great powers of invention, excelled also as a portrait-painter. The best specimens of his skill in this particular line embrace portraits of Pope Clement VII., Andrea Doria, two members of the Colonna family, Sebastiano himself, Cardinal Pole, and a lady as St Agatha. An indolent man and a dilatory, Sebastiano did little painting after his appointment as papal seal-keeper; yet he invented a method of painting on slate and stone. He died at Rome in 1547.