Among these he was a friend of Gabriello Chiabrera and Torquato Tasso, and took upon himself the task of designing the figures of the Jerusalem Delivered, published in 1590 (and also for a further edition, published in 1617).
On 2 June 1608, during the wedding celebrations at the Mantuan court, he composed the music for the fourth intermedio (words by Chiabrera; music lost), as part of a performance of Guarini's play L'Idropica.