Squarcione, Francesco

Squarcione, Francesco an Italian painter, was born at Padua in 1394, and, after performing many tours in Greece and Italy, lived in the latter country in great affluence and distinction until his death, in 1474. From his very numerous school (he had one hundred and thirty-seven scholars), he was called the father and primo maestro of painters. The celebrated illustrated Book of Anthems in the Church of the Misericordia, which used to be commonly ascribed to Mantegna, is now by competent judges considered one of the commissions of Squarcione executed by his scholars.