LANFRANCO, Ifin'friiilki% GIOVANNI (158° 1(47). An Italian historical painter, of the Eclectic School. He was born at Parma, and as a lad was page to the Marquis of Montalto. He showed such talent for design that his lord placed him with Agostino Carra•ei, who was then painting at Parma. After Agostino's death Lan franeo went to Rome to study under Annibale Carr:mei, and assisted him in the frescoes of the Earnese Palace. lle painted in different cities of Northern Italy. decorating the cupola of Santa Maria in Piazzo at Piacenza with frescoes of "Angels in Glory." for the Marquis of Montalto. Paul V. employed him in the Quirinal Palace and Santa Maria Maggiore. Through intrigue he obtained the commission for the cupola fres coes of San Andrea della Valle, which Domeni chino had begun. The subject represented is the "Ascension of the surrounded by a mul titude of angels, and the decoration is one of the most remarkable of the kind ever executed, both in keenness of foreshortening and treatment of light. At Naples he decorated the cupola of the Church of Gesft Nuovo (1031). and painted in
other churches, besides finishing the frescoes in the cupola of the chapel of the Treasury in the cathedral, left incomplete at his death by Do meniehino. On his return to Rome in 1646, Lan franeo painted "Saint Peter NValking upon the Sea" for Saint Peter's Church, and a Passion series for the Chapel of the Crucifix there, As a reward Pope Urban VIII. raised him to knight hood. He died in his villa, near Rome.
Lanfranco's chief importance consists in his frescoes, his oil paintings being less pleasing. Of the latter there are numerous examples in all the Italian collections, at Madrid. and in the Louvre. His coloring is brilliant and his style is vigorous, but all his work is superficial in character. Ile also studied engraving under Agostino Carracci, his most important plates be ing biblical subjects of Raphael's in the Vatican. engraved in conjunction with Listo Badalocehio.