Giovanni Quagliata

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Giovanni Quagliata (1603–1673) was an Italian painter of the

). Giovanni's brother, Andrea Quagliata (born in 1594 or 1599, and died in 1660), was also an historical painter, but of lesser significance. Giovanni's works – paintings, frescoes and large canvases – were famously displayed in the galleries and churches of Messina, but due to earthquakes from Mount Etna and wartime bombings, few have survived to the present day.

Biography

Giovanni's father, Giovan Domenico Quagliata, was a painter who lived in

in the late 16th century. Unfortunately Susinno does not cite the works of Giovan Domenico. Sometime before 1600, Giovan Domenico married a woman from Messina named Francesca LeDonne and together they had children. We know of two sons: Andrea Quagliata born in 1594 (or in 1599, and died in 1660) and Giovan Battista Quagliata born in 1603 (1603–1673, also known as Giovanni Quagliata). Andrea became a student of his father and was a capable painter. Giovanni was directed by his parents to study letters, but his studies were interrupted by the premature death of the father. Andrea, by that time a professional painter, convinced his younger brother to attend his school where Giovanni does well. Andrea married, but apparently did not have children.

Giovanni helped his brother with household income by painting small pictures and portraits. Giovanni became so attracted by the art of painting that he decided to journey to Rome to attend the prestigious school of Pietro Berrenttini from Cortona (also known as Pietro da Cortona). As Giovanni continued his studies under Cortona, it soon became clear that he was more talented than both his father and his brother. About age 24, he married a Roman woman named Cinzia Conticelli. During those years in Rome he created many works documented in the registers of the parish of San Nicola in Arcione, and he became a member of the Academy of Saint Luke – an association of artists in Rome, founded in 1593 for the purpose of elevating the work of "artists" above that of craftsman, which is still active today.

At age 37, perhaps enticed by lucrative commissions, Giovanni returned to Messina in 1640. There he enjoyed the patronage of the Spanish Viceroy of Sicily,

include: 'The Apparition of the Virgin Mary to Saint Paul', 'The Sacrifice of Polissena', 'The Virgin Nativity', 'Immaculate Mary', and 'The Triumph of David'.

References

• Quagliata, Iana (2006). Giambattista Quagliata, Pittore E Architetto Del '600. Monza, Italy: Stampato da Quick Printing.
• Susinno, Francesco (1960). Felice Le Monnier (ed.). Le vite dei pittori messinesi; text, introduction and bibliographic notes by Valentino Martinelli. Italy (originally published 1724 in Italy): Firenze.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
• Bryan, Michael (1889). Walter Armstrong; Robert Edmund Graves (eds.). Dictionary of Painters and Engravers, Biographical and Critical. Vol. II L-Z . London: George Bell and Sons. p. 331.

External links

• Regional Museum of Messina - The Virgin Nativity
• The Quagliata Family Genealogy Project - Information used with permission.