Girolamo Romanino

Girolamo Romanino was born at Brescia between 1484 and 1487. In his early years, he studied under Stefano Rizzi. Later he was the pupil of Civerchio whose art had a great influence on him. He also was influenced by Savoldo, and those outstanding Venetian masters, Giorgione, Titian, Lotto and Palma Vecchio. The influence of Foppa, the founder of the Milanese School, is also seen in certain compositions. His earliest dated work is a Pieta, done for the Church of Saint Rock at Brescia but now in the Academy of Venice, and is signed, "Rumani opus MDX mense Decembri." Romanino's compositions, monumental in style, are well balanced and boldly and freely executed. His figures, placed in large spaces are robust and generally of rustic plainness. They have a strong realism although, at times, their attitude is strained. Although Romanino has distinct, characteristic mannerisms, he is a close follower of the Venetian masters. He is distinguished for his fertility of invention and facility of execution. His coloring is rich and vigorous. Romanino painted a great number of allegorical, mythological as well as religious subjects as decorations of homes, public buildings and churches. He also painted portraits, some of them outstanding in their force and coloring. Romanino's travels, through Northern Italy, have left us many fine examples of his art. In 1512, when Brescia was plundered by the French, Romanino fled to Padua where Titian was finishing his frescoes in the Scuolo del Santo. During his stay in this city, Romanino made his home with the Benedictines for whom he executed an altarpiece representing the Madonna with Saints. This work is now in the museum at Padua. When Brescia was recovered by the Venetians, Romanino left Padua and returned to his native city. It is believed that during his travels, Romanino painted in Verona, Mantua and Cremona. In 1521, with Moretto, his friendly rival, Romanino decorated the Chapel of Corpus Christi in San Giovanni Evangelista where many of his frescoes and canvases are still to be seen. In 1525, he executed a large altarpiece, a polyptych in five parts, for the Church of San Alessandro in Bergamo, now in the National Gallery in London. Romanino was taken by relatives of Martinengo Colleoni to Malpaga to decorate the palace with scenes of important events in the life of Colleoni. His frescoes there, representing the Investing of Colleoni as general by Pope Paul II, are still extant. In 1531, he was called to Trent by Cardinal Bernhard von Cles to decorate his palace. The frescoes and portraits executed then, still decorate the ceilings and walls. His last dated painting, executed in 1562, is a Portrait of an Old Man at Table, now in the museum in Innsbruck. Among his pupils are Calisto da Lodi and Girolamo Muziano, the founder of the Academy of San Luca.