Legend: Domenichino died in Naples in April 1641 and was said to have been poisoned by rival painters; the one early biographer cited blames his relatives

Domenichino worked in Naples in his last years^†. Art historians link him to the Cabal of Naples, local painters said to have tried to drive out outside artists. His pupil Giovanni Battista Passeri reported that he lived in fear of being stabbed in the street or having his meals poisoned. He died in April 1641, and the legend names Jusepe de Ribera and other rival painters as the poisoners; an 1860 Britannica entry names Ribera and Caracciolo. Artnet quotes a curator saying there is no hard evidence that Ribera murdered anyone. Bernardo de' Dominici, writing in the 18th century, says his relatives played a major part in his death because they wanted his money^†. Modern sources hedge, saying poison or mental suffering hastened his death. No court record or autopsy has been found.