Mengs, Antonio Raphael

Mengs, Antonio Raphael a distinguished painter, was born at Auszig, in Bohemia, March 12, 1728, and studied the works of Raphael at Rome when but thirteen years of age. In 1744 he was appointed painter at Dresden by the emperor Augustus, with a salary. His first great work was The Holy Family, which was exhibited at Rome, and gained him great reputation. In 1754 he received the direction of the new academy at Rome, and in 1757 was employed by the Celestines to paint the ceilings of the church of St. Eusebius. In 1761 he was invited to Madrid by Carlos III, and granted a liberal pension. He executed, among other works. The Descent from the Cross and The Council of the Gods, for the king's court. He returned to Rome, where he was engaged by Clement XIV to paint in the Vatican a picture of Janus Dictating to History, and The Holy Family. After an absence of three years he returned to Madrid, where he commenced. his celebrated work in the dome of the grand saloon of. the royal palace at that place. But his health was failing, and he died at Rome, June 29, 1779. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.; Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.