Modena, Pellegrino Da

Modena, Pellegrino da an Italian painter, the most eminent of the Modena school, was born about the middle of the 15th century. He is often called Pelleffrino Munasi, and sometimes Aretusi, but is commonly known by the title prefixed to this notice. According to Lanzi, he first studied with his father, who was also an artist of considerable repute, and in 1509 painted an altar-piece for the church of St. Giovanni at Modena, which gained him no little reputation. At this time the fame of Raphael reached Modena, and Pellegrino at once journeyed to Rome, and placed himself under the instruction of that sublime master, who, perceiving the remarkable talent of his pupil, employed him as assistant in the famous works in the Vatican. At first Pellegrino painted in the open galleries, but afterwards executed from the designs of Raphael the History of Jacob and the History of Solomon in the Vatican, which Lanzi says were painted entirely after the manner of his master, and in a style almost incomparable. After the death of Raphael he continued to paint at Rome from his own designs, and executed some admirable works for the different churches, particularly a work in fresco in the church of St. Giacomo, entitled the History of St. James. After its completion he returned to Modena. Here he painted his most celebrated picture of the Nativity of our Lord, in the church of St. Paolo, which is characterized by Lanzi as "breathing in every part the graces of him of Urbino." Pellegrino met with a tragic death at the hands of some Modenese, who turned their fury against him because his son had slain an antagonist in a quarrel, in 1523. See Lanzi, Hist. of Painting, transl. by Roscoe (Lond. 1847, 3 volumes, 8vo), 1:397; 2:350; Spooner, Biog. Hist. of the Fine Arts (N.Y. 1865, 2 volumes, 8vo), 2:570.