Giuseppe Bazzani

Italian, 1690–1769

BiographyThe son of a goldsmith, Giuseppe Bazzani was born in Mantua in 1690. Interested in the arts from an early age, he trained in the studio of Giovanni Canti. The fine collections of art in Mantua also allowed Bazzani to gain exposure to the works of prominent sixteenth century artists, of which the most influential upon him were Peter Paul Rubens and the Venetian painter Paolo Veronese. The series of works Bazzani completed for the Vasto di Goito parish church clearly demonstrate this inspiration; his grandiose style and theatrical compositions reflect the influence of the two masters.

By the 1740s, Bazzani's had developed a lighter, Rococo-influenced style. The 1750s brought about what is often referred to as his 'lunar' period, in which the artist created a series of horizontal compositions depicting biblical narratives set against moonlit landscapes. The most well-known examples of these are the Annunciation and the Virgin and St Clare, a series of canvases completed for the Church of St Maria Della Carità.

Bazzani became a member of Mantua's Accademia di Bella Arti in 1752, and went on to become the Director of the Accademia in 1767. By this time, Bazzani had abandoned his earlier Rococo style in favor of more somber depictions which featured darker colors illuminated by smaller splashes of light. Bazzani suffered from a terrible fall sometime during the last few years of his life, leaving him unable to walk and use certain parts of his body. He died in 1769.