Antonio Corregio Italian painter Country: Italy

Biography of Antonio Correggio

Antonio Correggio, an Italian painter, was born in the town of Correggio near Modena. He studied under Bianchi Ferrari in Modena, and after Ferrari's death, he moved to Mantua where he was exposed to the works of Andrea Mantegna and his students. In his early works, Correggio's style was influenced by Leonardo da Vinci, although it is unknown when and where he became acquainted with the latter's works. Some examples of his early style include the paintings "The Engagement of Saint Catherine" (Louvre) and "Madonna with Saint Francis" (c. 1515, Dresden, Gemäldegalerie).

In 1518, Correggio moved to Parma. During this time, his works began to show tendencies towards illusionism, which would later be developed in his frescoes for the ceiling of San Paolo Monastery. Between 1520 and 1522, Correggio painted the composition of "The Ascension of Christ" on the dome of the Church of San Giovanni Evangelista. His next commission, the fresco of "The Assumption of the Virgin" on the dome of Parma Cathedral, was started around 1525. This painting became a model for many of Correggio's followers. He continued to work in the cathedral until around 1530 when he died. The unfinished frescoes were completed by his students.

In the later period of his career, Correggio also painted works on mythological, allegorical, and religious subjects. Some notable examples include "Day" (Madonna with Saint Jerome, c. 1528, Parma, National Gallery), "Night" (Adoration of the Shepherds, c. 1530, Dresden, Gemäldegalerie), "Leda with the Swan" (c. 1532, Berlin, Dahlem), and "Jupiter and Antiope" (1521-1525, Paris, Louvre). Unlike many of his contemporaries, Correggio did not seek influential patrons or settle in one of Italy's major artistic centers. Instead, he led a quiet and peaceful life in Mantua, Modena, Parma, and his hometown of Correggio, where he returned four years before his death.

The formation of Correggio's mature style was influenced more by his character and way of life than any external factors. To emphasize the beauty of form and surfaces, he aimed to use fluid movements of figures in space, a subdued color palette, and striking contrasts of light and shadow.