Federico Fiori Barocci

Place: Urbino

Born: 1535

Death: 1612

Biography:

Early Life and Training

, an Italian Renaissance painter and printmaker, was born in 1535 in Urbino, Italy. His original name was Federico Fiori, and he was nicknamed Il Baroccio, which means a two-wheel cart drawn by oxen in northwestern Italian dialects. Barocci received his earliest apprenticeship with his father, Ambrogio Barocci, a sculptor of some local eminence. He was then apprenticed with the painter Battista Franco in Urbino. This training laid the foundation for his future success.

Artistic Career and Influences

Barocci's work was highly esteemed and influential, foreshadowing the Baroque style of Peter Paul Rubens. He worked in the pre-eminent studio of Taddeo and Federico Zuccari in Rome, where he was exposed to various artistic influences.

• His first notable work was a St. Margaret executed for the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament.
• He was invited by Pope Pius IV to assist in the decoration of the Vatican Belvedere Palace at Rome, where he painted the Virgin Mary and Infant, with several Saints and a ceiling in fresco, representing the Annunciation.
• Barocci's style was characterized by a mix of Mannerism and Baroque elements, as seen in his Madonna del Popolo (Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy).

Notable Works and Legacy

• Five Studies of Male Figure and two of His Right Hand and Arm (Uffizi Gallery, Florence, Italy) - A testament to Barocci's skill in capturing the human form.
• Composition Study (for “Circumcision”, Paris, musée du Louvre) - Demonstrates his ability to balance composition and emotion.
• Man’s Head (for “Calling of Saint Andrew”, Bruxelles, Musées royaux des Beaux-Arts de Belgique) - Showcases Barocci's attention to detail and expression.

Artistic Impact and Followers

Barocci's influence can be seen in the work of various artists, including Peter Paul Rubens, who was inspired by Barocci's dramatic and emotive brushwork. His legacy continues to be celebrated through his numerous works, now housed in museums such as the Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy) and the musée du Louvre (Paris, France).

• View more of Barocci's works on Wikioo.org
• Explore the Italian Renaissance art movement and its impact on Western art on Wikioo.org