PANZACCHIA (Maria Helena). This painteress was born at Bologna in 1668, of a noble family, and appeared to have an extraordinary genius for painting. She learned design under the direction of Emilio Taruffi, and in a short space of time made an astonishing proficiency; so that in the compass of a few years she acquired great readiness in composition, correctness of outline, and a lovely tint of colouring.
She also excelled in painting landscapes; and by the
(A) "See the dialogue of Lucian, intitled, De Saltatione, tom. ii. p. 265—317. edit. Reitz. The pantomimes obtained the honourable name of χωροί; and it was required that they should be conversant with almost every art and science. Burette (in the Mémoires de l'Académie des Inscriptions, tom. i. p. 127, &c.) has given a short history of the art of pantomimes.
(B) "Ammianus, l. xiv. c. 6. He complains, with decent indignation, that the streets of Rome were filled with crowds of females, who might have given children to the state, but whose only occupation was to curl and dress their hair; and jaudari volubilibus gyris, dum expriment innumera simulacra, quæ fixere fabula theatrales."
the beauty of her situations and distances allured and entertained the eye of every judicious beholder. The figures which she inserted had abundance of grace; she designed them with becoming attitudes, and gave them a lively and natural expression. Her merit was incontestably acknowledged, and her works were exceedingly prized and coveted.