VINCENZO

CAMUCCINI (1773-1844)  , Italian historical painter, was born at Rome . He was educated by his brother Pietro, a picture-restorer, and Borubelli, an engraver, and, up to the age of thirty, attempted nothing higher than copies of the great masters, his especial study being Raphael . As an original painter, Camuccini belongs to the school of the French artist David . His works are rather the fruits of great cleverness and patient care than of fresh and original genius; and his style was essentially imitative . He enjoyed immense popularity, both personally, and as an artist, and received many honours and, preferments from the papal and other Italian courts, He was appointed director of the Academy of San Luca and of the Neapolitan Academy at Rome, and conservator of the pictures of the Vatican . He was also made chevalier of nearly all the orders in Italy, and member of the Legion of Honour . His chief works are the classical paintings of the " Assassination of Caesar," the " Death of Virginia," the " Devotion of the Roman Women," " Young Romulus and Remus," " Horatius Cocles," the " St Thomas," which was copied in mosaic for St Peter's, the " Presentation of Christ in the Temple " and a number of excellent portraits . He became a rich man, and made a fine collection of pictures which in 1856 were sold, a number of them (including Raphael's " Madonna with the Pink ") being bought by the duke of Northumberland .