_Painter._
[Born at Venice, 1485. Died at Rome, 1547. Aged 62.]
The pupil of Bellini and Giorgione. At Rome he competed with Raffaelle,
and gained the friendship and approval of Michael Angelo, some of whose
designs he executed,--amongst others that of the “Raising of Lazarus”--a
picture now in our National Gallery. Besides painting in oils and
fresco, he invented a method of painting on stone, which was much
admired. His portraits are celebrated, and he excelled in beauty of
colouring. It is said that he was slow of execution, and not a lover of
his art, which he deserted for other pleasures when he attained
competency. His principal works are in Venice and Rome. He was called
_Fra del Piombo_ (Monk of the Signet), from the office of sealer of
briefs, which he held in the Pope’s Chancery.
[By Massimiliano Laboureur.]