A capriccio, with a castello and figures by the Farnese Hercules

The decorative history and scene painter, John Devoto, although Italian in origin was born in France. He began his career in England in 1708 as an assistant to Gerard Lanscroon (fl.1678-1737) at Burley-on-the-Hill and was to become one of the leading scene painters of the day. In 1718 he took an apprentice in London as a 'master history painter' and a portrait of him by Vincenzo Damini (fl.1713-1744) was engraved by Faber, 1738, as 'Historicus, scenicusque pictor'.