PASTURA, ANTONIO DEL MASSARO DA VITERBO, DETTO IL

PASTURA, ANTONIO del MASSARO da VITERBO, known as il. - A painter first mentioned in 1478, when he is recorded as a member of the Academy of S. Luca in Rome; d. between 1509 and 1516.

No youthful works survive that would permit a reconstruction of his activity before he entered the orbit of the two greatest Umbrian painters of the period, Perugino (v.) Pinturicchio (v.), to whose manner all his

production is linked. He was particularly influenced by Pinturicchio, with whom he collaborated in the decoration of the Borgia Apartments in the Vatican (1493–94), where, in the Hall of the Liberal Arts, the Rhetoric and the Music are assigned to him. Around 1498 he is found working independently at Orvieto, where he repainted part of the choir previously ILARIANO (v.) with scholastic diligence. Better, though still lacking in originality, is the decoration, completed in 1509, of the choir of Tarquinia Cathedral with Stories from the Life of Mary. Other works by him are preserved at Orvieto (Madonna Enthroned, in S. Trinita; S. Sebastiano, in the Museo dell'Opera del Duomo), in the Museo civico of Viterbo (Nativity, Madonna with angels and saints), Tuscania (Madonna), and Worcester (Nativity). A fresco Pietà in S. Maria del Popolo in Rome is also attributed to him.