VIII. Polidore de Caravage.
Was born in Lombardy. In his youth he was in so mean a condition, that he was forced for his subsistance to be a Com∣mon Labourer to Masons, carrying Water and other necessa∣ries towards building the Galleries of Leo 10th untill the sight of some of John d' Ʋdines Works excited in him a gene∣rous resolution to free himself from this unseemly Profession, and exchange it for something more glorious: A happy occa∣sion presented it self to him for this purpose, by the friendship he had contracted with one of D' Ʋdines Schollars, who com∣municated to him all his Masters good Instructions, and he followed his business so close, that he soon outstripped his obliging friend, and made himself taken notice of for a rare Artist: Being more addicted to study greatness of Design, than the delicacy of Colouring, he associated himself with one Pelegrine, an experienced Painter of Modena, and they toge∣ther painted that curious Piece, of The City of Rome, under the representation of a Woman holding the World in sub∣jecton, and to which the subject Nations are presenting their Tribute. The Wrestling of the Olympick Games in the Front of the House of Spinoli, wherein is perfectly described the strength and agility of Bodies. A sacrifice, with all its solempnity; The death of Tarpeia, by the Sabines. He also painted near St. Angelo, the Triumph of Furius Camillus; near to that The History of Phalaris, the Tyrant of Agrigentum, and the manner of Perillus's suffering the Torments of the Brazen Bull, which he himself invented for others: Also a Battle af∣ter the antient manner, full of goodly Inventions: Romulus with his plough marking out the Boundaries of Rome. The Court of Savelli is adorned by him with the ravishing of the Sabines, and the defeat of Porsenna by Horatius Cocles: In Mount Cavallo, is a most curious representation of one of the Vestal Virgins carrying water to the Temple, in a Sieve for a proof of her Virginity, another, of the unexspected reliefe which Furius Camillus brought to Rome, at the very instant when King Brennus was employed in seeing the Gold weighed which the vanquished Romans, were to have paid for their ransomes. Indeed Italy never had a person, that painted more of Antiquity, or more correctly then he: He thus bestowed his time in Rome for a long space living in great content and abundance; untill the taking and sacking of that Town by the Duke of Bourbon and his Army, after which he retired to Naples, and then to Messina, where he still increased so much in Wealth, that it proved the unhappy occesion of his death, for a Sicilian which he kept in his service, casting a covetous eye upon his Treasure, took his opportunity in the Night, and strangled him with a Napkin, and after he had robbed him made his escape for some time, but afterwards this bloody Murtherer was discovered and received the due Reward of his Villany.