Villacis, Don Nicolas De

Villacis, Don Nicolas De a Spanish painter, was of noble birth, a native of Murcia. He was first instructed in design in his native city, and then sent to Madrid, where he received instruction from Don Diego Velasquez. He afterwards studied in Italy; and on his return to Murcia, executed some important works for the churches and convents, which have been highly commended. The principal ones are a series of pictures in the life of San Blas, in the convent of La Santisima Trinidad de Calzados: — and the Martyrdom of St. Lorenzo, in the Church of the Dominicans. Being a wealthy nobleman, he painted only for amusement; his works are therefore rare. He died in 1690. See Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts, s.v.