a family of eminent Italian artists, of whom Ercole Procaccini was the father. He was born at Bologna in 1720, and practised his profession at Milan. Laborious, careful, and exact, he did not fail to achieve success. His pictures, in spite of a tameness of colouring and an over-minuteness of detail, were notable for their graceful and correct figures, and their freedom from slovenly mannerisms. His mode of teaching was especially painstaking and excellent. Some of the most distinguished artists of the Milanese school issued from his academy. Ercole Procaccini was still living in 1591. His principal works are in the churches of Bologna.

Camillo, the eldest son of the preceding, was born at Bologna in 1546. The course of training by which he was fitted for his profession was very thorough. In his father's school he was inured to patient and tasteful elaboration. Then repairing to Rome to complete his education for himself, he acquired higher qualifications. The contemplation of the great creations of Michael Angelo kindled his imagination. The study of the graceful heads of Parmigiano refined his taste. His brain became ready and fertile in inventing, and his hand became rapid and felicitous in executing. There was scarcely an artistic accomplishment, in fact, which he did not easily acquire. Camillo Procaccini thus attained to great eminence, and his name became well known in many cities. At Bologna, Ravenna, Pavia, and Genoa, he received as much employment as would have occupied two artists. At Reggio he painted "St Rocco Dispensing the Sacrament to the Plague-stricken Victims" with so much excellence that Annibale Carracci was discouraged when he was commissioned to execute a companion picture to it. At Piacenza he finished a fresco of the "Coronation of the Virgin," which was only eclipsed by an adjacent work of his great rival above mentioned. Nor was his fame less at Milan, his fixed place of residence. At the time of his death in 1626 there were few artists who rivalled him in the estimation of his fellow-citizens.

Giulio Cesare, was the second son of Ercole Procaccini, and was born at Bologna in 1548. He was studying sculpture when the success of his brother Camillo induced him to enter upon the profession of a painter. The excellence which he soon attained in his new profession was very great. His conceptions were multiform and grand, his design was dignified and correct, and his colouring was rich and harmonious. Pervading all there was an exquisite grace, which was evidently copied from Correggio, and which approached nearer to the style of that great master than any imitations had ever done before. Such a number of estimable accomplishments could not fail to secure for Procaccini an honourable place in the annals of painting. Accordingly, at his death in 1626 he left several pictures which still preserve a high reputation. The most famous of these are at Milan. are a "Deposition" and the "Martyrdom of St Nazarius and St Celsus" in the church of La Madonna, a "St Carlo" in the church of San Tomaso in Terra Mala, an "Annunciation" and several other pictures in the church of San Antonio, a portrait of Pope Julius III. in the imperial palace, and the "Adoration of the Magi" in the Brera gallery.

Carlo Antonio, was the third son of Ercole Procaccini, and was born at Bologna in 1555. Although brought up in the school of his father, he spent his life chiefly in painting landscapes, flowers, and fruits. He had a son named Ercole who obtained some repute as an artist.