Andrea Mantegne
was born at Isola di Carturo near Padova in 1431 and died in Mantova in 1506. He was
apprenticed to the Paduan painter Francesco Squarcione and thus he grew in a milien rich
with humanistic culture thanks to tuscan artists such as Paolo Uccallo, Andrea Castagno
and Donatello.
Before 1460, when Mantegna moved to Mantova as court painter to Ludovico III Gonzaga he
had accomplished such master pieces as St. Luke's polyptych S.Zeno's altar piece
and the Agony in the garden".
During the long time Andrea Mantegna lived in Mantova (the photo represent his house) he
painted the Chapel of St. George's Castle, of which now only the triptych remains with the
Adoration of the Magi, Presentation in the tample(Firenze, Uffizi) and the
"Virgin's death"(Madrid, Prado). These masterpieces forewarned the painting
of "La Camera degli Sposi"(Bridal Chamber) in St. George's Castle.
The fresco includes the walls as well as the ceiling and represents a pavilion open onto
an airy countryside with two main scenes: Ludovico Gonzaga's family assembled for a
ceremony and the meeting of the Marquess Ludovico with his son Cardinal Francesco
and his followers. The frescoes are painted in a detached, classical style.
One of his last masterpieces the " Deat Christ", (Milano, Breda) is
characterized by a strongly foreshortened figure.
Among of his last works there are the Parnaso and the Triumph of Virtues for
the studio of Isabella d'Este now in the Louvre. Mantegna accomplished many other
masterpieces such as the Madonna of the Vistory (Louvre, Paris), the Triumph of
Cesare and two paintings of St. Sebastian through which he clearly influenced the
Renaissance picture.
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