BARTOLOMMEO

CARDUCCI (156o-161o)  , Italian painter, better known as CARDUCHO, the Spanish corruption of his Italian patronymic, was born in Florence, where he studied architecture and sculpture under Ammanati, and painting under Zuccaero . The latter master he accompanied to Madrid, where he painted the ceiling of the Escorial library, assisting also in the production of the frescos that adorn the cloisters of that famous palace . He was a great favourite with Philip III., and lived and died in Spain, where most of his works are to be found . The most celebrated of them is a Descent from the Cross, in the church of San Felipe el Real, in Madrid . His younger brother VINCENZO (1568-1638), was born in Florence, and was trained as a painter by Bartolommeo, whom he followed to Madrid . He worked a great deal for Philip III. and Philip IV., and his best pictures are those he executed for the former monarch as decorations in the Prado . Examples of his work are preserved at Toledo, at Valladolid, at Segovia, and at several other Spanish cities . For many years he laboured in Madrid as a teacher of his art, and among his pupils were Giovanni Ricci, Pedro Obregon, Vela, Francisco Collantes, and other distinguished representatives of the Spanish school during the 17th century . He was also author of a treatise or dialogue, De las Excelencias de laPintura, which was published in 1633 .