MASTER of the Annunciation to the Shepherds
(b. ~1610 ?, d. ~1650 Napoli)
Spanish painter, active in Naples. His identity remains obscure and has given rise to a number of theories among art historians. The names of Bartolomeo Passante (1618-1648), a disciple of Ribera, Francanzano (c. 1605-1651), Giovanni Do (1617-1656), and others were proposed for identification. Although a body of works is now established, the debate is not yet over.