Jacopo Ligozzi

Italian, 1547–1626

BiographyLigozzi was born in the Northern Italian city of Verona in 1547, to a family of skilled artisans who served in the courts of wealthy families. As a result, Ligozzi was surrounded by craftsmanship from an early age, impacting the quality of his own work later in life. Most of his formal artistic training tool place in Verona, which is evident through close study of Ligozzi's work.

In 1576, Ligozzi was summoned to Florence at the request of the Grand Duke Francesco de Medici for the job of “scientific illustrator”, as well as painter and designer, for the Medici workshop. It wasn't until the 1590s that Ligozzi became more active as a painter in his own right, at which time he began producing many altarpieces and frescoes for Florentine churches.

Ligozzi worked for the Medici Family for the rest of his life, creating many different kinds of artwork, including miniatures for private worship, botany illustrations, designs for the Medici stone-inlay workshop, as well as large-scale paintings. He was one of the most productive artists in seventeenth century Florence, and his works are renowned for their craft, measured precision, and detail.