MICHAEL

See also:

• MICHAEL COXCIE (1499–1592)

COXCIE (1499–1592)  , Flemish painter, was born at Malines, and studied under Bernard van Orley, who probably induced him to visit Italy . At Rome in 1532 he painted the chapel of Cardinal Enckenvoort in the church of Santa Maria dell' Anima; and Vasari, who knew him, says with truth " that he fairly acquired the manner of an Italian." But Coxcie's principal occupation was designing for engravers; and the fable of Psyche in thirty-two sheets by Agostino Veneziano and the Master of the Die are favourable specimens of his skill . During a subsequent residence in the Netherlands Coxcie greatly extended his practice in this branch of art . But his productions were till lately concealed under an interlaced monogram M.C.O.K.X.I.N . Coxcie returned in 1539 to Malines, where he matriculated, and painted for the chapel of the gild of St Luke the wings of an altar-piece now in Sanct Veit of Prague . The centre of this altar-piece, by Mabuse, represents St Luke portraying the Virgin; the side pieces contain the Martyrdom of St Vitus and the Vision of St John in Patmos . At van Orley's death in 1541 Coxcie succeeded to the office of court painter to the regent Mary of Hungary, for whom he decorated the castle of Binche . He was subsequently patronized by Charles V., who often coupled his works with those of Titian; by Philip II., who paid him royally fora copy of van Eyck's " Agnus Dei "; and by the duke of Alva, who once protected him from the insults of Spanish soldiery at Malines . There are large and capital works of his (1587–1588) in St Rombaud of Malines, in Ste Gudule of Brussels, and in the museums of Brussels and Antwerp . His style is Raphaelesque grafted on the Flemish, but his imitation of Raphael, whilst it distantly recalls Giulio Romano, is never free from affectation and stiffness . He died at Malines on the 5th of March 1592 .