The New Student's Reference Work/Domenichino

Domenichino (dṓ-mĕn′ ḗ-kē′ nṓ) or Domenico Zampieri, a celebrated Italian painter, was born at Bologna in 1581, the son of a shoemaker. He studied under several masters; and was known as a quiet, studious scholar, who never went into society except to study the faces of people in order that he might paint better. In Rome he painted for some of the prominent men of the time and gained a great reputation, but he excited so much jealous opposition among other painters that he left Rome for a time. He was recalled by Pope Gregory XV, who appointed him principal painter and architect to the papal palace. After 1631 he was in Naples where he opened a school; but he was persecuted by the painters of Naples who had formed the so-called cabal of Naples, to keep out all other painters. Their persecution is supposed to have caused his death, which occurred at Naples in 1641.