FABRIA'NO, GENTILE DA, an Italian painter, who flourished in the early part of the 15th century. He was born—it is not exactly known when—at Fabriano, and received his first instructions from his father, who appears to have been a man of superior cul ture, as he taught his son the elements of physics and mathematics. F.'s first teacher in art was, it is supposed, Allegrette de Nuzio. Subsequently, he went to Florence, and studied under Fiesole. Among his earliest works of note is a fresco of the Madonna in the cathedral of Orvieto. In 1423, he painted an "Adoration of the Kings" for the church of the Holy Trinity in Florence. This picture is one of the most admirable belonging to the school of Giotto. To the Same period belongs a Madonna with saints (now in the Berlin museum). F. afterwards went to Venice, where he greatly increased his reputation by a picture of the bloody engagement between the fleet of the republic and that of the emperor Babarossa off the heights of Piratic. The Venetian senate was
so delighted with the piece, that it conferred on the fortunate artist the dignity of a patrician, and a pension of a ducat per diem for life. Unhappily, this work has per ished. Pope Martin V. now called F. to Rome, and employed him, along with Vittore Pisanello, in adorning the church of San Giovanni Latcrano. As his share of the work, he painted various incidents in the life of John the Baptist, five prophets, and portraits of pope Martin himself and 10 cardinals. He died, while engaged on this building, some time after 1450. F.'s pictures indicate a eheeful and joyous nature. He had quite a child-like love of splendor and rich ornamentation, but is never extravagant or excessive in his coloring.