MELZI, Francesco Italian Painter, 1493-1570
Italian painter and draughtsman. Belonging to a noble Lombard family, he began to attend the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci around 1508, during Leonardo's second visit to Milan. From that time on he was always associated with Leonardo, whose favourite pupil he became: he followed Leonardo to Rome in 1513 and moved with him to France in 1515, staying with him until his death in 1519. Flora sh 1517-21
Oil on canvas transferred from wood, 76 x 63 cm
The Hermitage, St. Petersburg
