SPRANGER (Bartholomew), a German painter, born at Antwerp in 1546. He was brought up under a variety of masters, and then went to Rome, where cardinal Farnese took him into his service, and afterwards recommended him to Pope Pius V. He was employed at Belvidere, and worked two years and ten months in drawing the picture of the Last Judgment; this piece, which contained 500 heads, was so highly valued, that, after the death of Pius, it was placed over his monument as its principal ornament. From Rome he entered into the service of the emperors Maximilian and Rudolphus II. by whom he was exceedingly cared for and honoured; the latter in 1588 ennobled him and his descendants, and in the presence of his whole court placed a chain of gold of three rows round the neck of the artist, and ordered him to wear it as long as he lived. He died in 1623; and
and as he worked mostly for princes and nobles, his works are not frequently to be bought.