Gaspare Murtola

Gaspare Murtola (Italian pronunciation: [ˈɡaspare ˈmurtola]; d. 1624 or 1625) was an Italian poet and writer of madrigals. He is known for a bitter literary feud with Giambattista Marino, carried out "with sonnets, invectives, and pistol shots," and for references he makes in his poetry to art works by Caravaggio. In a madrigal of 1603, he responded to Caravaggio's Medusa with "Flee, for if your eyes are petrified in amazement, she will turn you to stone." His works include La Creazione del mondo ("The Creation of the World," 1608).
Murtola was a ducal secretary. He was born in Genoa and died in Rome.