Pignone, Simone

Pignone, Simone all Italian painter, who, according to Oretti, was born at Florence in the year 1614, studied with Fabrizio Boschi, afterwards with Passignano, and lastly with Francesco Furini, whose manner he adopted, though he improved his coloring by visiting Venice, and studying the works of the great masters, particularly those of Titian and Tintoretto. After his return to Florence he distinguished himself by several works which he executed for the churches, and which were greatly admired for the delicacy and beauty of the coloring. The most esteemed of these are, St. Michael disconfiting the Rebel Angels, in the Nunziata: St. Louis, King of France, Distributing his Wealth to the Poor, in S. Felicita; and an altar-piece, Monte Oliveto. His most admired works, however, are to be found in the collections of the nobility. These are of small size, and from sacred subjects. There are also some of his pictures in the Florentine Gallery. He was fond of painting mythological subjects, the peculiar character of which afforded a fine opportunity of displaying his marvellous skill in flesh tints. Lanzi and Carlo Maratti agree as to his being among the best of the Florentine painters of his time. His death occurred in 1698. See Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, 2:695.