Pietro da Cortona Art

Pietro da Cortona was born on 1st November, 1596 in Cortona, Italy. He was an Italian decorator, architect, and painter, and an outstanding exponent of Baroque style. He studied in Rome under the minor Florentine painters Baccio Ciarpi and Andrea Commodi. Pietro was influenced by the work of Raphael and by antique sculpture. His earliest paintings that were also the most important were three frescoes in Santa Bibiana which he did between 1624 and 1626. He also designed the Villa at Castel Fusano and another near Rome called Villa del Pigneto. Both were for the Sacchetti family, his patrons. In the 1630, Pietro da Cortona’s fame reached climax with the design of ceiling of fresco Allegory of Divine Providence and of the church of SS. Luca e Martina. In the design of this church he derived the idea more from Florentine than from Roman sources. This resulted in a different type of Baroque architecture from that of either Borromini or Bernini. Pietro also began painting the frescoes in 1637 when he visited Florence. These frescoes were for the Grand Duke Ferdinand II of Tuscany. They were in the Pitti Palace and represented the Four Ages of Man. In 1647, Pietro returned to Rome where he painted the gallery of the Pamphili Palace for Pope Innocent X, and the vault frescoes of Santa Maria in Vallicella. His main architectural works during this time included the Santa Maria in Via Lata in Rome and the facades of Santa Maria della Pace. From 1634 to 1638, Pietro was the head of the Academy of St. Luke in Rome. He painted mythological and religious pictures throughout his life. He died on 16th May, 1669 in Rome, Italy. His artistic works remain quite famous, with many art outlets selling canvas, laminated, and framed Pietro da Cortona art.