The Raphael's Bible print series stands as the most recognized output of Sisto Badalocchio, a project completed in collaboration with Giovanni Lanfranco that captured frescoes from the Vatican loggias. Born in Parma in 1585, this Italian artist navigated the shifting aesthetics of the seventeenth century while operating as both a skilled painter and a precise printmaker.
Artistic Formation in Bologna and Rome
Badalocchio began his professional training in Bologna under the guidance of Agostino Carracci. This early instruction within the Bolognese school provided the foundation for his later career. He eventually transitioned to Rome to work alongside Annibale Carracci, maintaining that professional partnership until 1609. During this period in Rome, he participated in several major fresco projects, including work within the San Diego Chapel in San Giacomo degli Spagnoli between 1602 and 1607, as well as the decoration of the Palazzo Costaguti, specifically the piece depicting Nessus and Deianeira.
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His primary contributions as a painter center on his work at the church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Reggio Emilia. Tasked with the decoration of the dome and its accompanying pendentives, he produced imagery influenced by the stylistic precedents set by Correggio. The central dome fresco illustrates the parousia, or the second coming of Christ, while the surrounding pendentives feature depictions of the four cardinal virtues.
Career Trajectory and Legacy
After departing Rome in 1609, Badalocchio returned to northern Italy. While he frequently collaborated with Lanfranco on large-scale fresco cycles, his personal profile remained distinct from his peers. Historians credit him with the movement of artistic styles from the centers of Italian production into northern regions. He concluded his career in Parma and Bologna, passing away in 1647 at the age of 62.
Fast facts
- Born: 1585, Parma
- Died: 1647, Bologna
- Nationality: Italy
- Occupations: Painter, printmaker
- Movement: Bolognese school
- Key collaborator: Giovanni Lanfranco
- Primary medium: Fresco
- Working locations: Rome, Bologna, Parma
Questions readers ask
What is Sisto Badalocchio's most famous work as a printmaker?
His best known work in printmaking is the Raphael's Bible series, produced with Giovanni Lanfranco.
Where can his most important fresco work be found?
His major fresco cycle is located within the church of San Giovanni Evangelista in Reggio Emilia.
Achievements
- Movement: Bolognese school
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