L'Ortolano (Giovanni Battista Benvenuti)

L'Ortolano, born Giovanni Battista Benvenuti, was an Italian painter active during the early 16th century, particularly known for his contributions to the Ferrarese school. His most notable works date to the late 1520s, where he excelled in religious compositions and oil painting. L'Ortolano's work displays a strong influence of Renaissance masters like Raphael and Michelangelo, while retaining his distinct, expressive style. He was celebrated for his skill in depicting figures with realism and emotion, but much of his life remains enigmatic, with few surviving biographical records.

This artist, who earned his nickname from his father’s employment as a gardener, was most likely trained in Ferrara in the first decade of the sixteenth century. His compositions, often illuminated by oblique lighting effects, subtly meld the rich saturated colors associated with Venetian painting with a measured classicism. This contemplative composition focuses on the adoration, eliminating the Annunciation to the Shepherds that is often included in such scenes.