Valerio Castello - The Virgin and Child with Saint John the Baptist

Valerio Castello (1624October 1659) born in

Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Italy. In 2015, 594,733 people lived within the city's administrative limits. As of the 2011 Italian census, the Province of ...

, was an Italian painter of the Baroque period and one of the pre-eminent Ligurian painters of his time. His art drew inspiration from a wide range of sources. He painted on canvas and fresco.Maria Clelia Galassi and Federica Lamera. "Castello (ii)." Grove Art Online. Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 11 Mar. 2016.

Life

He was the youngest son of

Bernardo Castello Bernardo Castello (or Castelli) (1557–1629) was an Italian painter of the late-Mannerist style, active mainly in Genoa and Liguria. He is mainly known as a portrait and historical painter.He needs to be distinguished from Giovanni Battista Ca ...

, who died when Valerio was six years old. Valerio and his brothers were attached to the noble family of Torquato. While it had been the original intention for him to study a literate profession, he showed an affinity to drawing. This was noted by his patrons, who arranged his apprenticeship with

Domenico Fiasella Domenico Fiasella (12 August 1589 – 19 October 1669) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, mainly active in Genoa. He was nicknamed ''Il Sarzana'', after his birthplace. Biography He was born in c, the son of Giovanni Fiasella, a silver ...

. Later he studied with Giovanni Andrea de’ Ferrari. To seek new inspiration, he travelled to Milan and then to Parma, probably between 1640 and 1645. In Milan he admired the work of Camillo Proccacini. From there, he traveled to

Parma Parma (; egl, Pärma, ) is a city in the northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna known for its architecture, music, art, prosciutto (ham), cheese and surrounding countryside. With a population of 198,292 inhabitants, Parma is the second mos ...

. He excelled in painting battle-scenes. He was also quite prolific within Genoa during his short life. He painted the ''Rape of the Sabines'', now in the Palazzo Brignole,

, and decorated the cupola of the

Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is the Catholic cathedral of Genoa, northern Italy; its decoration employed the major baroque studios and artists in Genoa in the 17th century. It is named ''Vastato'' because the area where it ...

in the same city. For the house of Francesco Maria Balbi, he collaborated with the quadraturista from Bologna, Andrea Sghizzi to fresco the palace. In his works he is regarded by his admirers as combining the fire of

Tintoretto Tintoretto ( , , ; born Jacopo Robusti; late September or early October 1518Bernari and de Vecchi 1970, p. 83.31 May 1594) was an Italian painter identified with the Venetian school. His contemporaries both admired and criticized the speed wit ...

with the general style of Paolo Veronese. Castello influenced the work of young

Domenico Piola Domenico Piola (1627 – 8 April 1703) was a Genoese painter of the Baroque period. He was the leading artist in Genoa in the second half of the 17th century, working on ceiling frescoes for many Genoese churches and palaces and canvas paintin ...

. He also admired the work of Anthony van Dyck, who had spent a long time in Genoa and whose paintings could be seen all over the city. Among his pupils were

Bartolomeo Biscaino Bartolomeo Biscaino (1632–1657) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in his native Genoa. Life He was the son, and pupil, of Giovanni Andrea Biscaino. He afterwards became a pupil of Valerio Castello. His career was cut shor ...

Giovanni Paolo Cervetto Giovanni Paolo Cervetto (died 1657) was an Italian painter of the Baroque period. He was very active in his native Genoa Genoa ( ; it, Genova ; lij, Zêna ). is the capital of the Italian region of Liguria and the sixth-largest city in Ita ...

, and Stefano Magnasco (the father of

Alessandro Alessandro is both a given name and a surname, the Italian form of the name Alexander. Notable people with the name include: People with the given name Alessandro * Alessandro Allori (1535–1607), Italian portrait painter * Alessandro Baricco ...

References

Sources

*Camillo Manzitti, ''Valerio Castello'', Turin, 2004. 2nd edition 2008. *Camillo Manzitti, ''Valerio Castello'', Genoa, 1972. *''Valerio Castello 1624-1659 Genio Moderno'', Catalogue of the exhibition curated by Marzia Cataldi Gallo, Luca Leoncini, Camillo Manzitti, Daniele Sanguinetti, Ginevra-Milano, 2008. *Raffaele Soprani, ''Le Vite de Pittori, Scoltori et Architetti Genovesi'', Giuseppe Bottaro e Gio Battista Tiboldi Compagni, Genoa, 1674. Pagine 231–236. *Raffaello Soprani
Vite de Pittori, Scultori ed Architetti Genovesi
Second edition, volume I: revised and expanded by Carlo Giuseppe Ratti, Stamperia Casamara, dalle Cinque Lampadi, con licenza de superiori, Genova, 1768. Pagine 339–350. *Giuseppe Ginori
Serie degli uomini i più illustri nella pittura, scultura, e architettura...
1773.

External links

1624 births 1659 deaths 17th-century Italian painters Italian male painters Painters from Genoa Italian Baroque painters Italian battle painters {{Italy-painter-17thC-stub