Messina, Antonella Da

Messina, Antonella Da an Italian painter, was born at Messina some time between 1414 and 1426: studied in the Netherlands in the school of Johann van Eyck, where he learned the secret of the preparation and use of oil-colors, and spread the knowledge of it afterwards among the Venetians. Authors differ widely as to this artist, and very little is known of his life. His principal works are the head of St. Sebastian and a Madonna and Child, in the Berlin Museum. A Christ bound to a Pillar is in the Manfrini Gallery at Venice, and a Dead Christ, with three weeping angels, in the Imperial Gallery of Vienna. A Crucifixion, with the Virgin and St. John, is in the Antwerp Museum; and in the Academy of Venice is a Weeping Nun. Two altarpieces by him are recorded, which were painted for the two churches of the Dominante, besides several Madonnas and sacred subjects for individuals. He died about 1490. See Vasari, Lives of the Painters, transl. by Foster (London, 1850, 5 vols. 8vo), 2:55; Spooner, Biographical History of the Fine Arts (N. Y. 1865, 2 vols. 8vo), vol. ii, s.v.