Sebastiano Ricci (1659 - 1734)

Ricci was a notable Venetian painter during the transition from late Baroque to Rococo. After his apprenticeship 1680, he went to study in Bologna, Parma and Rome, since 17th century Venice had little to offer young aspiring artists. His early works show the classical influence of the Carraccis and Guido Reni (1575–1642), the subtle formulation of Antonio da Correggio (1489–1534) and the chiaroscuro style of Venetian tenebrosi artists. For his figures, Ricci draws on Roman-Florentine models such as Pietro da Cortona (1596–1669) or Giovanni Battista Gaulli, called Baciccio (1639–1709). Vienna (1701–1703), England (1712–1716) and France (1716) were further significant stages in the painter’s life. The study of Venetian frescoist Paolo Veronese (1528–1588) lent Ricci’s later works a lighter atmosphere and influenced the early works of Giovanni Battista Tiepolo (1696–1770).

Author: Habersatter Thomas

Literature: DUCKE Astrid, HABERSATTER Thomas, OEHRING Erika: Masterworks. Residenzgalerie Salzburg. Salzburg 2015, S. 22