Aniello Falcone

>Aniello Falcone 2005-04-20T09:26:50Z Lorem Ipsum Removed date vandalism by 138.89.92.207 '''Aniello Falcone''' (1600-1665) was an [[Italy|Italian]] [[painter]] notable for his images of [[battle]]s. Born in [[Naples]] the son of a tradesman, he showed his artistic tendency at an early age. He first received some instruction from a relative, and then studied under [[José de Ribera]], of whom he ranks as the most eminent pupil. Besides battle pictures, large and small, taken from biblical as well as secular history, he painted various religious subjects, which, however, count for little in his general reputation. He became, as a battle painter, almost as celebrated as [[Ambrogio Borgognone]], and was named ''L Oracolo delle Battaglie''. His works have animation, variety, truth to nature, and careful color. Falcone was bold, generous, accustomed to arms, and an excellent fencer. In the insurrection of 1647, led by [[Masaniello]], he resolved to be bloodily avenged for the death, at the hands of two Spaniards, of a nephew and of a pupil in the school of art which he had established in Naples. He and many of his scholars, including [[Salvator Rosa]] and [[Carlo Coppola]], formed an armed band named the ''Compagnia della Morte'', or Company of Death (see [[Salvator Rosa]]). They scoured the streets by day, exulting in slaughter; at night they were painters again, and handled the brush with impetuous zeal. Peace being restored, they had to decamp. Falcone and Rosa made off to Rome; here Borgognone noticed the works of Falcone, and became his friend, and a French gentleman induced him to go to [[France]], where [[Louis XIV of France|Louis XIV]] became one of his patrons. Ultimately [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert]] obtained permission for the painter to return to Naples, and there he died in 1665. Two of his battle-pieces are to be seen in the [[Louvre]] and in the Naples museum; he painted a portrait of Masaniello, and engraved a few plates. Among his principal scholars, besides Rosa and Coppola (whose works are sometimes ascribed to Falcone himself), were [[Domenico Gargiulo]] (named Micco Spadaro), [[Paolo Porpora]] and [[Andrea di Lione]]. {{1911}} [[Category:Italian painters|Falcone, Aniello]]