Grand illusionistic vault frescoes at the Church of the Gesù in Rome stand as the primary legacy of Giovanni Battista Gaulli. Born in Genoa in 1639, the artist navigated the complex artistic landscape of the High Baroque and early Rococo periods, ultimately becoming one of the most esteemed portrait and fresco painters in the Italian capital.
Early Influences and Career in Rome
Gaulli initially apprenticed with Luciano Borzone in Genoa. Following the death of his parents in the 1654 plague, his artistic development was shaped by an eclectic mix of foreign painters residing in the city, such as Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck, as well as local figures like Valerio Castello and Bernardo Strozzi. Upon moving to Rome, he secured the support of the merchant Pellegrino Peri, who introduced him to Gian Lorenzo Bernini. In 1662, Gaulli joined the Accademia di San Luca, and by the following year, he completed his first public commission for a Roman church.
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In 1661, the Jesuit General Gian Paolo Oliva sought to decorate the interior of Il Gesù. Despite competing interest from established artists like Maratta and Ferri, the commission was awarded to the young Gaulli, largely due to the influence of Bernini. The project required transforming a barren nave into an immersive religious experience. The resulting work, the Triumph of the Name of Jesus, utilized sophisticated quadratura techniques to create the illusion that the church ceiling opened directly into the heavens.
Artistic Style and Technique
Following a 1669 visit to Parma, where he studied Correggio's dome frescoes, Gaulli shifted from a linear style toward a more painterly approach. He frequently employed the di sotto in su perspective to draw the viewer into his compositions. His ability to integrate painted figures with stucco elements, produced in collaboration with sculptor Antonio Raggi, blurred the boundary between architecture and art, creating a sense of movement that mirrored the theatricality of his mentor, Bernini.
Fast facts
- Born: 1639, Genoa
- Died: 1709, Rome
- Citizenship: Republic of Genoa
- Occupations: Painter, sculptor, fresco painter
- Notable work: Conversion of Paul
- Notable work: The Thanksgiving of Noah
Questions readers ask
Why is Gaulli often associated with Bernini?
Bernini promoted Gaulli's career in Rome, and their shared aesthetic philosophy—specifically the blending of fresco and stucco—led critics to call Gaulli a mouthpiece for Bernini's ideas.
What medium did Gaulli primarily use?
He is primarily known for his work in paint, specifically frescoes and portraiture, though surviving drawings in various media exist as studies for his paintings.
Achievements
- Notable work: Conversion of Paul
- Notable work: The Sermon of St. John the Baptist
- Notable work: A Blessed Abbess Receiving the Host from the Hands of Christ
- Notable work: Paintings by Giovanni Battista Gaulli il Baciccio in the Uffizi Gallery
