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Maria, Francesco di
(b Naples, ?1623; d Naples, 1690). Italian painter. He was the most fervent supporter of the classical tradition working in Naples in the second half of the 17th century. He was taught by his father, but later became a follower of Domenichino and, during several visits to Rome, came into contact with the circle of classical artists led by Andrea Sacchi and Nicolas Poussin. His interest in the Antique and in the Old Masters was encouraged by Salvator Rosa. Yet di Maria also responded to the more painterly art of Lanfranco, Luca Giordano and Mattia Preti, and his art unites the colour of Giordano with an emphasis on disegno and on intellectual complexity. His early works include a St Anne (1640–53; Naples, church of the Girolamini) and The Drummer (Cefalù, Mus. Mandralisca). A series of altarpieces included the Calvary and the Ecstasy of St Teresa of Avila (both 1660; Naples, S Giuseppe a Pontecorvo) and the monumental St Gregory Thaumaturgus (c. 1660) for S Gregorio Armeno, where di Maria also frescoed a chapel with scenes from the Life of St Gregory Thaumaturgus (1660–70). These works suggest the influence of Charles Mellin (in Naples 1643–7), Simon Vouet and Lanfranco. Di Maria enjoyed a high reputation as a portrait painter; one of the few surviving portraits is of Cardinal Ascanio Filomarino (Florence, Gal. Corsini). English patrons, among them John Cecil, 5th Earl of Exeter, also received portraits, biblical scenes and mythological pictures (untraced). Among di Maria’s last works were frescoes (1684; untraced) in S Luigi di Palazzo, Naples. He was an influential teacher whose pupils included Paolo de Matteis, Andrea Malinconico (1624–98) and Giacomo Farelli.
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