The artistic career of Cosimo Rosselli spanned the Quattrocento period, reaching its height when he joined a group of prominent masters in Rome during 1481 to decorate the walls of the Sistine Chapel. A prolific creator in his native Florence, he balanced high-profile papal commissions with extensive local duties for religious institutions.
Early Training and Florentine Commissions
Born in Florence in 1439, Rosselli began his formal apprenticeship in 1453 under the instruction of Neri di Bicci. His training also involved his cousin, Bernardo di Stefano Rosselli. By 1469, he completed a notable panel featuring Saints Barbara, Matthias, and John the Baptist for the German confraternity located at the church of the Santissima Annunziata. His output in Florence remained steady, including frescoes for the Annunziata's forecourt and a lunette depicting the Annunciation within the associated convent.
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Working alongside peers such as Sandro Botticelli, Pietro Perugino, and Domenico Ghirlandaio, he collaborated with assistants, including the young Piero di Cosimo, to produce the Descent from Mount Sinai, the Sermon of the Mount, and the Last Supper. Biagio d'Antonio assisted him on the latter work. While other masters opted for muted palettes, Rosselli utilized vibrant colors and generous amounts of gold leaf, a stylistic choice that reportedly earned him favor with the Pope.
Ecclesiastical Works and Legacy
Beyond Rome, Rosselli produced significant works for various Italian cities, including Pisa and Lucca. In Florence, his contributions to the church of Sant'Ambrogio featured prominently in his later career, specifically the frescoes within the Chapel of the Holy Blood and an altarpiece showing the Madonna and Child in Glory with Saints Augustine and Francis. His studio served as a training ground for several future masters, most notably Piero di Cosimo, Fra Bartolomeo, Mariotto Albertinelli, and Agnolo di Domenico del Mazziere. He died in his birthplace of Florence in 1507.
Fast facts
- Born: 1439, Florence
- Died: 1507, Florence
- Primary Field: Painting
- Movement: Quattrocento
- Notable Pupils: Piero di Cosimo, Fra Bartolomeo
- Rome Activity: 1481
- Notable Works: Descent from Mount Sinai, Last Supper, Sermon on the Mount
Questions readers ask
Which major project included Rosselli alongside Botticelli and Perugino?
He was among the painters commissioned by Pope Sixtus IV in 1481 to create fresco cycles for the side walls of the Sistine Chapel.
Who were some of the pupils trained by Cosimo Rosselli?
His students included Piero di Cosimo, Fra Bartolomeo, Mariotto Albertinelli, and Agnolo di Domenico del Mazziere.
Achievements
- Notable work: Descent from Mount Sinai
- Notable work: Sermon on the Mount
- Notable work: Last Supper
- Notable work: Madonna and Child with Angels
- Movement: Quattrocento
