Giovanni Battista Gaulli (Il Baciccio)

Giovanni Battista Gaulli, known as Il Baciccio, was an Italian Baroque painter born in 1639 and active until his death in 1709. He is renowned for his dynamic compositions and dramatic use of light and color, which exemplify the Baroque style. Gaulli gained significant recognition for his work in the Church of the Gesù in Rome, where he created an impressive ceiling fresco that showcases his mastery of illusionistic techniques. His contributions to the Baroque movement influenced subsequent generations of artists, particularly in the realm of decorative painting. Despite his prominence, details about his early life and training remain largely unknown.