Cristoforo Moretti
Encyclopedia
Cristoforo Moretti was a Lombard
painter of the quattrocento
who worked in a late International Gothic
style very similar to that of Michelino da Besozzo’s last period. Few of the unsigned works later attributed to him are attributed with perfect certainty.
Born in the Province of Cremona
, he is first recorded in 1451, working for the Borromeo
s in Milan. Between then and 1475 he is found variously in Milan, in Genoa
, in Turin
, in Casale
, where he decorated the chapel of the Paleologi castle, and in Vercelli
. (It seems that he was expelled from Milan in 1462, accused of having defamed the wife of Bianca Maria Visconti
’s doctor.)
His best-known work, and the only one surviving to bear his signature, is probably the polyptych
painted for the chapel of Sant’Aquilino next to the Milanese church of S. Lorenzo Maggiore
. The work was subsequently broken up and dispersed, but most of its constituent parts were identified by Roberto Longhi in 1928. Three panels, depicting the Virgin and Child enthroned flanked by Saints Lawrence
and Genesius of Rome
(the latter playing a rebec
), are today in the Museo Poldi Pezzoli
in Milan. The whereabouts of the panel portraying Saint Peter the Martyr are unknown; however a fragment of that with Saint Lucy
is in the Longhi Foundation in Florence and part of the predella
, again showing Genesius, is conserved in Bologna.
Lombardy
Lombardy is one of the 20 regions of Italy. The capital is Milan. One-sixth of Italy's population lives in Lombardy and about one fifth of Italy's GDP is produced in this region, making it the most populous and richest region in the country and one of the richest in the whole of Europe...
painter of the quattrocento
Quattrocento
The cultural and artistic events of 15th century Italy are collectively referred to as the Quattrocento...
who worked in a late International Gothic
International Gothic
International Gothic is a phase of Gothic art which developed in Burgundy, Bohemia, France and northern Italy in the late 14th century and early 15th century...
style very similar to that of Michelino da Besozzo’s last period. Few of the unsigned works later attributed to him are attributed with perfect certainty.
Born in the Province of Cremona
Province of Cremona
The Province of Cremona is a province in the Lombardy region of Italy. Its capital is the city of Cremona.The province has an area of 1,771 km² and in 2008 census, had a population of 358,628. There are 115 comuni...
, he is first recorded in 1451, working for the Borromeo
House of Borromeo
The aristocratic Borromeo family, said to date from before the twelfth century, were counts of Arona from the mid-fifteenth century and played important roles in the politics of the Duchy of Milan and in the Catholic Reformation...
s in Milan. Between then and 1475 he is found variously in Milan, in 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....
, in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, in Casale
Casale Monferrato
Casale Monferrato, population 36,058, is a town and comune in the Piedmont region of north-west Italy, part of the province of Alessandria. It is situated about 60 km east of Turin on the right bank of the Po, where the river runs at the foot of the Montferrato hills. Beyond the river lies the...
, where he decorated the chapel of the Paleologi castle, and in Vercelli
Vercelli
Vercelli is a city and comune of about 47,000 inhabitants in the Province of Vercelli, Piedmont, northern Italy. One of the oldest urban sites in northern Italy, it was founded, according to most historians, around the year 600 BC.The city is situated on the river Sesia in the plain of the river...
. (It seems that he was expelled from Milan in 1462, accused of having defamed the wife of Bianca Maria Visconti
Bianca Maria Visconti
Bianca Maria Visconti was Duchess of Milan from 1450 to 1468.-Early years:Born near Settimo Pavese, Bianca Maria was the illegitimate daughter of Filippo Maria Visconti, Duke of Milan and last of the Visconti rulers, and Agnese del Maino, the only person the shy, secluded Filippo ever loved...
’s doctor.)
His best-known work, and the only one surviving to bear his signature, is probably the polyptych
Polyptych
A polyptych generally refers to a painting which is divided into sections, or panels. The terminology that follows is in relevance to the number of panels integrated into a particular piece of work: "diptych" describes a two-part work of art; "triptych" describes a three-part work; "tetraptych"...
painted for the chapel of Sant’Aquilino next to the Milanese church of S. Lorenzo Maggiore
Basilica of San Lorenzo, Milan
The Basilica of Saint Lawrence is a church in Milan, northern Italy, dedicated to the Christian martyr St. Lawrence.- History :Various suggestions of its origin have been made, including a foundation in c.370., the Basilica of San Lorenzo was renovated and redecorated in the 16th century...
. The work was subsequently broken up and dispersed, but most of its constituent parts were identified by Roberto Longhi in 1928. Three panels, depicting the Virgin and Child enthroned flanked by Saints Lawrence
Saint Lawrence
Lawrence of Rome was one of the seven deacons of ancient Rome who were martyred during the persecution of Valerian in 258.- Holy Chalice :...
and Genesius of Rome
Genesius of Rome
Saint Genesius of Rome was an actor who worked in a series of plays that mocked Christianity. One day while performing in a work that made fun of baptism he received sudden wisdom from God, realized the truth of Christianity, and had a conversion experience on stage...
(the latter playing a rebec
Rebec
The rebecha is a bowed string musical instrument. In its most common form, it has a narrow boat-shaped body and 1-5 strings and is played on the arm or under the chin, like a violin.- Origins :The rebec dates back to the Middle Ages and was particularly popular in the 15th and 16th centuries...
), are today in the Museo Poldi Pezzoli
Museo Poldi Pezzoli
The Museo Poldi Pezzoli is an art museum in Milan, Italy.The museum was originated in the 19th century as private collection of Gian Giacomo Poldi Pezzoli and his mother, Rosa Trivulzio, of the family of the condottiero Gian Giacomo Trivulzio, and has a particularly broad collection of Northern...
in Milan. The whereabouts of the panel portraying Saint Peter the Martyr are unknown; however a fragment of that with Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy
Saint Lucy , also known as Saint Lucia, was a wealthy young Christian martyr who is venerated as a saint by Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, and Orthodox Christians. Her feast day in the West is 13 December; with a name derived from lux, lucis "light", she is the patron saint of those who are...
is in the Longhi Foundation in Florence and part of the predella
Predella
A predella is the platform or step on which an altar stands . In painting, the predella is the painting or sculpture along the frame at the bottom of an altarpiece...
, again showing Genesius, is conserved in Bologna.
External links
.- Passage on Cristoro Moretti from Volume 4 of Luigi Lanzi’s, Storia pittorica della Italia dal risorgimento delle belle arti fin presso al fine del XVIII secolo.
- Francesco Malaguzzi Valeri, Pittori lombardi del quattrocento (Milan: L. F. Cogliati, 1902), Chapter II: Cristoforo Morreti e l’influsso di Pisanello nella scuola lombarda.