the latter, Marco depicted Sant’ Agostino Disputing with Heretics; above and beside which are events from the life of Christ, and saints in various attitudes.[1] In these works, which display a decided advance towards the good qualities of the modern manner, we discern considerable facility, with exceedingly beautiful colouring. The Dispute of Sant’ Agostino was one of the many laborious works which this master executed for that city, as well as for many other parts of the Neapolitan kingdom.
Marco always lived a joyous life, and denied himself no reasonable gratification; he had neither rivalry nor opposition to contend with from the artists of his vocation, and being in the highest favour with the nobles of his adopted country, he received very large remuneration for the works which he executed. Having attained to the age of fifty-six, he died of an ordinary malady in the year 1542. The Neapolitan painter, Giovanni Filippo Crescione, was a disciple of Marco. This artist has painted many pictures in company with his brother-in-law, Leonardo Castellani, and still continues to do so; wherefore, as these masters are living, and in the constant practice of their art, I need not make further mention of them in this place. The works of Maestro Marco were performed from 1508 to 1542.
There was another Calabrian, who was the companion of Marco, but I do not know his name. He worked in Rome during a long time, with Giovanni da Udine, and produced numerous pictures, which he executed entirely alone, in that city, more especially façades in chiaro-scuro, of which he painted many. The painting of the chapel of the Conception, in the church of the Trinità, is by this artist, who acquitted himself in that work, which is in fresco, with great ability and diligence.
At the same time lived Niccola, most commonly called Maestro Cola della Matrice,[2] who executed numerous works
- ↑ Paintings by Marco are still to be seen in the Church of Sant’ Agostino at Naples, but on a different subject from that here given. The Father Orlandi doubts whether the pictures here described were in Sant’ Agostino of Aversa, and believes them to have been executed for the Church of that Saint in Naples. — German and Florentine Editions 1838-45.
- ↑ Or Amatrice, a small town in the farther Abruzzo.
