OIORDA'NO, LUCA, called LtTCA FA PRESTO, was born in 1629, according to Velasco, or 1632 according to Dominici, at Naples, where he studied painting under Ribera, better known by the name of Spagnoletto. He afterwards went to Rome, where be became a pupil of l'ietro da Cortona, and assisted him in many of his great works. Leaving Rome, he repaired to Lombardy to study Correggio, and then to Venice, to acquire a knowledge of the composition and colouring of the great Venetian artists. These various studies not only impressed on his mind a vivid idea of the style of every eminent master; but, as he had great readiness of hand, enabled him to imitate them so closely as to deceive even experienced connoisseurs. He had not only a fertile imagination, but such a rapidity of execution that the number of great works executed by him is astonishing. It was not from this circumstance however that ho derived the name of Fa Presto, hut, as is said, from the avarice of his father, who at the beginning of Luca's career sold at a high price his designs after the works of the great masters, and was continually urging him at meals as well as at work by saying, Luca, fa presto' (' Luca, make haste'), which his com panions gave him as a nickname. After his return to Naples he was
much employed there, till in 1679 he was invited by Charles II., king of Spain, to adorn the EscuriaL He accordingly went to Madrid, where his polished manners, cheerful temper, and lively wit, in addition to his talents as an artist, gained him the favour of the court, where he remained till the death of Charles II., when be returned to his own country. His colouring was agreeable, his designs were spirited and ingenious, and his drawing, when be allowed himself time, correct; but from the rapidity with which he proceeded, his works are often deficient In these particular& His best works are his frescoes, iu the Escurial at Madrid, at Florence, and at Rome. Some of his finest pictures are at Dresden. The grand altar-picture in the church of the Ascension st Naples, representing the 'Battle of the Angels and the Fall of Lucifer,' is considered as one of his finest performances. He died in 1704 or 1705.