![]() |
Giacomo CherutiItalian artist.
Country:
![]() |
Content:
Biography of Giacomo Ceruti
Giacomo Ceruti, also known as Jacobus Ceruti Brixsebsis, was an Italian artist. He was nicknamed "Il Pitocchetto," which means "the little beggar," as he often depicted real-life subjects, portraying people from the lower class in his artwork. For a long time, there was limited information available about the artist's life. It was only in the 20th century, thanks to the discoveries made by Italian researchers R. Longhi and G. De Logu, that details about Ceruti's biography started to emerge.
De Logu's findings, published in 1931, included 46 paintings by Ceruti from the castle of the Counts Salvadego in Padernello (most of these works are now housed in the Pinacoteca di Brescia), which allowed the scholars to associate the artist's name with a group of painters from the first half of the 18th century. These painters worked in various regions of Italy and continued the traditions of Caravaggio. Longhi referred to them as the "painters of reality" (pittori della realtà).
It is now believed that Ceruti was born in 1698 in Milan, rather than Brescia, as previously thought based on his signature as "Jacobus Ceruti Brixsebsis." There is no reliable information about his education, but researchers believe he may have been associated with Fra Galgario and the Bergamo artist Antonio Cifrondi. Ceruti spent his early years in Milan and later worked in Brescia (1728), Venice (1736), Padua (1737-1741), and Piacenza (1743).
The artist presumably passed away in 1767 in Milan. Ceruti was known for his adherence to the "maniera piccola" or "small manner," which stood in contrast to the official art of the "grand manner" (maniera grande). Many of his works are portraits of ordinary people, including peasants, craftsmen, and even beggars. They are painted with great realism but without excessive emphasis on the character of the subject.
In addition to portraits, Ceruti also painted still lifes. The main characteristic of these works is the natural composition of the subject matter, displaying astonishing realism. There are also records of Ceruti working on religious subjects, such as in the Church of St. Anthony in Padua. Furthermore, the artist worked in the Veneto region, decorating villas, such as the Villa De Dzaccara in Strà.
Notable Works
- "Two Beggars" (Brescia, Pinacoteca Tosio-Martinengo)
- "The Traveler" (private collection)
- "The Laundress" (Brescia, Pinacoteca Tosio-Martinengo)
- "Woman Weaving a Basket" (private collection)
- "The Spinner" (private collection)
- "The Dwarf" (Brescia, Pinacoteca Tosio-Martinengo)
- "The Nun" (Milan, Galleria Poldi Pezzoli)
- "The Young Man" (Rome, National Gallery of Modern and Contemporary Art)
- "Girl with a Fan" (Bergamo, Accademia Carrara Gallery)
- "Still Life with Fish and Onions" (Milan, Pinacoteca di Brera)
- "Still Life with Pumpkin and Pears" (Milan, Pinacoteca di Brera)
- "Woman with a Dog" (New York, Metropolitan Museum of Art)
- "Evening in the Square" (Turin, Civic Museum of Ancient Art)
- "Boy with a Dog" (Belfast, Ulster Museum)
- "The Poor's Dinner" (private collection)
- "Three Beggars" (Baron Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection)