GIOVANNI BATTISTA

CRESPI (1557-1663)  , called Il Cerano, Italian painter, sculptor, and architect, was born at Cerano in the Milanese . He was a scholar of considerable attainments, and held a position of dignity in his native city . He was head of the Milanese Academy founded by Cardinal Frederigo Borromeo, and he was the teacher of Guercino . He is most famous as a painter; and, though his figures are neither natural nor graceful, his colouring is good, and his designs full of ideal beauty .