Michael Bryan

“ It is but justice to this painter to allow him the credit of being one of the first that attempted to reform the stiff and Gothic taste of his country, and although he did not entirely divest himself of it, it may be asserted that his design, always correct, approaches sometimes to grace and beauty. ”

“ His early-displayed talent for art induced his parents to comply with his wish to become a painter, and he was placed under the tuition of a respectable portrait painter, named Jerrigh. After passing six years under this master, he applied himself to study and copy the works of Barthel Spranger. About the year 1584 he visited Italy, and first stopped at Venice, where he passed some time among the great works of art in that distinguished school of colouring. ”

“ He studied especially the style of Tintoretto, with much success. He afterwards went to Rome, where his first painting was an altar-piece, representing the ‘Nativity,’ for one of the chapels of the Jesuits’ church. ”