_Marcello Venusti_ (Florentine: 1515-1579).
Venusti, a native of Como, was a pupil of Perino del Vaga,
but best known as assistant to Michelangelo, of whose works
he supplied copies with variations to suit different patrons.
In the oil copy of "The Last Judgment," now at Naples, he
introduced in the left-hand corner a portrait of the master
himself. He was also employed to put into colour designs made
by Michelangelo.
There are drawings by Michelangelo in the British Museum for the
figures in this composition. Notice how everything is sacrificed to
violent action and contorted position--the money-changers whom Christ
is driving out of the Temple are composed as it were for a ballet of
limbs. Notice also the "debased" architectural background--the absurdly
distorted pillars with their puerile capitals.