ANIELLO

FALCONE (x600–x665)  , Italian battle-painter, was the son of a tradesman, and was born in Naples . He showed his artistic tendency at an early age, received some instruction from a relative, and then studied under Ribera (Lo Spagnoletto), of whom he ranks as the most eminent pupil . Besides battle-pictures, large and small, taken from biblical as well as secular history, he painted various religious subjects, which, however, count for little in his general reputation . He became, as a battle-painter, almost as celebrated as Borgognone (Courtois), and was named " L' Oracolo delle Battaglie." His works have animation, variety, truth to nature, and careful colour . Falcone was bold, generous, used to arms, and an excellent fencer . In the insurrection of Masaniello (1647) he resolved td be bloodily avenged for the death, at the hands of two Spaniards, of a nephew and of a pupil in the school of art which he had established in Naples . He and many of his scholars, including Salvator Rosa and Carlo Coppola, formed an armed band named the Compagnia delta Morte (" Company of Death "; see Rosa, SALVATOR) . They scoured the streets by day, exulting in slaughter; at night they were painters again, and handled the brush with impetuous zeal . Peace being restored, they had to decamp . Falcone and Rosa made off to Rome; here Borgognone noticed the works of Falcone, and became his friend, and a French gentleman induced him to go to France, where Louis XIV. became one of his patrons . Ultimately Colbert obtained permission for the painter to return to Naples, and there he died in 1665 . Two of his battle-pieces are to be seen in the Louvre and in the Naples museum; he painted a portrait of Masaniello, and engraved a few plates .

Among his

principal scholars, besides Rosa and Coppola (whose works are sometimes ascribed to Falcone himself), were Domenico Gargiuolo (named Micco Spadaro), Paolo Porpora and Andrea di Lione .