ATTRIBUTED TO FRANÇOIS DE NOMÉ (METZ C.1593-AFTER 1644 NAPLES) OR DIDIER BARRA, CALLED MONSÙ DESIDERIO (METZ C.1590-AFTER 1652 NAPLES)

The work of François de Nomé and Didier Barra has long been confused, both having been associated in the past with the pseudonym Monsù Desiderio, a ‘highly praised painter of perspectives and city scenes’ (B. de Dominici, Vite, Naples, 1745, II, p. 314) which is now believed to belong to Barra. Having trained in Rome under 'Maestro Baldassare', likely Balthazar Lauwers, de Nomé moved to Naples in circa 1610. Barra is first documented in Naples in 1630, though he left his home town of Metz in circa 1608, so it is probable that he arrived earlier than this. It is believed that both artists were employed in the same Neapolitan studio; they share a distinctive approach to architectural fantasy and cityscapes with lively, loose brushwork that lends a sense of movement to their compositions. In the present painting of Death's triumphant entry into a city the exuberance and rich decoration of the scene typifies this type of fantastical baroque.