Chapter 5
The very cream of Sicilian nobility lived in Palermo. Fabrizio knew them all personally so our days were soon punctuated with invitations and social obligations, while for me the doors were opened in the most prestigious palazzi of the city. Curious and intrigued by my fame as portrait painter to the Spanish royal family, the nobles were anxious to have me paint their portraits and also some members of the clergy asked me for religious works to hang in the churches and convents. I was so pleased to return to painting once again that at first I accepted all proposals enthusiastically. In just a short time I was overwhelmed with work.
I had also agreed to a request from the Marquesa of Campofiorito who had asked me to take Giovan Battista Anticone as a pupil. I was flattered to l
