Antonio Verrio
Antonio Verrio (
1639-
1707) was a decorative painter of
Italian origin. He came to
England in 1671 and executed wall-paintings for the nobility showing vast
baroque mythologies. He was greatly admired by
Charles II for whom he did a lot of work at
Windsor (mostly lost). From
1688 to
1698, he decorated the Heaven Room at Burghley House.
Alexander Pope ironically said,
On painted ceilings you devoutly stare
Where sprawl the saints of Verrio or Laguerre.
See also English school of painting