Venusti, Marcello

Venusti, Marcello an Italian painter, was born at Mantua in 1515. He studied under Pierino del Vaga in his native city, and afterwards went to Rome, where he entered into the service of Michael Angelo, from whom he received instruction. He, imitated the style of that great master with excellent success, and executed many of his designs. Besides these, he planned and executed many works for the churches of Rome, both in oil and fresco, which are admired for the grandeur of their composition, elegance of design, beauty of coloring, and neatness of finish. He died in 1576. See Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.