Giovanni Battista Castello
Encyclopedia
Giovanni Battista Castello (1500 or 1509 – 1569 or 1579) was an Italian
historical painter
.
Born in Gandino
near Bergamo
, he is ordinarily termed Il Bergamasco to distinguish him from the other painter (of miniatures) with the identical name from school of Genoa
. His best-known works are the paintings on the vault of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato
. He was an architect
and sculptor
as well as painter.
When young, he apprenticed with Aurelio Buso
of Crema
, a pupil of Polidoro da Caravaggio. He was sponsored in Genoa by Tobia Pallavicino and sent to Rome for some years. He returned to decorate the palazzo Pallavicino and the church of San Marcellino. He painted of the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian in the monastery of San Sebastiano. Along with Luca Cambiaso, was commissioned by the Duke Grimaldi to decorate the ceiling of the choir of the Nunziata di Portoria in Genoa, with a fresco of Christ as judge of the world.
He decorated the hall of the Lanzi Palace at Gorlago
, with narrative scenes of the Iliad. He worked on various projects with his friend Cambiaso, including in a chapel for the Duomo di San Lorenzo. In 1567 he was invited to Madrid to become painter and architect to Philip II
. He also executed some works in the Escorial, and died holding the office of architect of the royal palaces, including the Pardo Palace. As architect, he is supposed to have remodeled the church of San Matteo in Genoa and to have designed the imperial palace at Campetto. He died at Madrid
in 1569 or 1579.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
historical painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
.
Born in Gandino
Gandino
Gandino is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 70 km northeast of Milan and about 20 km northeast of Bergamo...
near Bergamo
Bergamo
Bergamo is a town and comune in Lombardy, Italy, about 40 km northeast of Milan. The comune is home to over 120,000 inhabitants. It is served by the Orio al Serio Airport, which also serves the Province of Bergamo, and to a lesser extent the metropolitan area of Milan...
, he is ordinarily termed Il Bergamasco to distinguish him from the other painter (of miniatures) with the identical name from school of Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
. His best-known works are the paintings on the vault of the Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato
Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato
The Basilica della Santissima Annunziata del Vastato is a Catholic cathedral in Genoa, northern Italy; its decoration employed the major baroque studios and artists in Genoa in the 17th century....
. He was an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and sculptor
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
as well as painter.
When young, he apprenticed with Aurelio Buso
Aurelio Buso
Aurelio Buso was an Italian painter from Crema. He studied under Polidoro da Caravaggio and Maturino da Firenze, and assisted them in several of their works at Rome. He ornamented the palace of the noble family of Benzoni at Venice with friezes and other works in the style of Polidoro.-Sources:...
of Crema
Crema, Italy
Crema is a town and comune in the province of Cremona, in the region of Lombardy in northern Italy. It is built along the river Serio at 43 km from Cremona. It is also the seat of a Catholic Bishop, who gave to Crema the title of city...
, a pupil of Polidoro da Caravaggio. He was sponsored in Genoa by Tobia Pallavicino and sent to Rome for some years. He returned to decorate the palazzo Pallavicino and the church of San Marcellino. He painted of the Martyrdom of St. Sebastian in the monastery of San Sebastiano. Along with Luca Cambiaso, was commissioned by the Duke Grimaldi to decorate the ceiling of the choir of the Nunziata di Portoria in Genoa, with a fresco of Christ as judge of the world.
He decorated the hall of the Lanzi Palace at Gorlago
Gorlago
Gorlago is a comune in the Province of Bergamo in the Italian region of Lombardy, located about 60 km northeast of Milan and about 12 km southeast of Bergamo...
, with narrative scenes of the Iliad. He worked on various projects with his friend Cambiaso, including in a chapel for the Duomo di San Lorenzo. In 1567 he was invited to Madrid to become painter and architect to Philip II
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
. He also executed some works in the Escorial, and died holding the office of architect of the royal palaces, including the Pardo Palace. As architect, he is supposed to have remodeled the church of San Matteo in Genoa and to have designed the imperial palace at Campetto. He died at Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 1569 or 1579.