Giovanni Francesco Romanelli

Giovanni Francesco Romanelli was an Italian Baroque painter born in Viterbo in 1610 and died in 1662. He was a prominent figure in the Baroque movement, known for his frescoes and altarpieces that exemplified the dramatic and dynamic style of the period. Romanelli trained under Pietro da Cortona in Rome, which significantly influenced his artistic development. His work gained the patronage of Pope Urban VIII and the Barberini family, leading to commissions in the Vatican and the Palazzo Barberini. Romanelli's influence extended beyond Italy, as he was invited to France by Cardinal Mazarin, where he contributed to the decoration of the Louvre. His legacy is marked by his ability to blend classical themes with the expressive vigor characteristic of Baroque art.