Correggio/Antonio Allegri was born on August 1494 in Correggio (which is now Emilia Romagna, Italy). In Correggio’s early life he studied the topics of optics, perspective, architecture, sculpture, and anatomy, which was possibly taught by his uncle Lorenzo Allegri (a painter). In 1503, Correggio studied in Modena and then in Mantua, where he arrived before he famous early Renaissance painter Andrea Mantegna died in 1506. When Mantegna died, Correggio helped decorate Mantegna’s works (the Mantegna’s family chapel) in the church of Sant’ Andrea at Mantua. After this, young Correggio created two round paintings, called the “Entombment of Christ” and “Madonna and Saints.” At the time, Correggio was inspired by and learned the techniques of Mantegna’s art, but he was also inspired by Da Vinci as well. Correggio liked Da Vinci’s artwork because they both had a similar drawing and painting style called “chiaroscuro” which is a contrast between light and dark. When Correggio visited Rome, he became inspired by Michelangelo and Raphael after seeing their fresco paintings in the Vatican.
As Correggio grew older, he left Mantua and lived between Parma and his hometown. Correggio’s first documented painting was an altarpiece of the “Madonna of St. Francis” for a commission from San Francesco. A special aspect about Correggio’s paintings is that his pictures were very luminous in colour (for example, the Navity, Adoration of the Kings, etc.)
When Correggio reached adulthood, his mature style came from his first commission for Parma, on a ceiling in San Paolo. In 1520-23, Correggio was appointed by Giovanna de Piancenza to paint the dome of the fresco, “Ascension of Christ,” followed by a segment of the apse of the same church called the “Coronation of the Virgin.” A main art piece that impacted Correggio was the fresco of the “Assumption of the Virgin” on the Parma cathedral ceiling which then labeled Correggio as a mural painter. The Assumption of the Virgin painting is so famous because of its focus on heaven and the realistic way the figures in the clouds are warped into the clouds and the paintings use of depth.
Correggio’s other works fall into three categories: great altarpieces (ex. The Adoration of Shepherds (1530), and the Madonna of St. Jerome)), amazing small sized works, and paintings with various mythological characters. Correggio was known for his paintings intimate/domestic moods between figures, and portrays the ideal aesthetic of feminine beauty through the medium of oil paints. And unfortunately on March 5, 1534, Correggio passed away.
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My opinion about Corregio is that he is a very talented artist who was taught the all-round aspects of creating art through painting, sculpting, and drawing, which I find is very difficult to be talented in all those areas. Correggio’s was a master of showing depth in his artwork and using the contrasts of light and dark shading. I really enjoy looking at his colourful and refined style, and he inspires me to use more colours in my artwork.
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Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Correggio-Italian-artist
Makayla,
Solid work on Correggio here! You have plenty of historical background through your research combined with your personal thoughts about the pieces in question. This is just what I’m looking for. I’m giving you 2/2 on your first two posts. Well Done!
Jeff