50 - Mattia Preti (Taverna 1613 – Valletta 1699)

Mattia Preti (Taverna 1613 – Valletta 1699) Saint Luke the Evangelist Oil on canvas 117.5 x 93.5 cm (to be verified; measurements are taken from the expert report) The work is accompanied by an expert report by Professor Nicola Spinosa, available via email. After completing his early studies in his hometown, Mattia Preti moved to Rome in 1630. There he was welcomed by his brother Gregorio, who at the time was already an established painter working independently and able to provide his brother with the means to pursue his apprenticeship. The turning point, however, came when the young Mattia was drawn to the paintings of Caravaggio and the colorful group of painters who followed in his footsteps. In Rome, he achieved success thanks to his artistic skills and his style, which was as exaggerated as it was captivating. In 1641, he was made a Knight of the Order of Malta by Pope Urban VIII, a title that earned him the nickname “Cavaliere Calabrese” (Calabrian Knight), given his Calabrian origins. In 1652, thanks to Guercino, he was commissioned to decorate the dome of the Church of San Biagio in Modena. He subsequently enjoyed a successful period in Naples between 1653 and 1661, where he brought his theatrical and dramatic vision of Caravaggesque naturalism. After leaving Naples, he settled permanently in Malta, from where, in addition to local commissions, he managed to maintain contact with various important patrons both in Italy and throughout the rest of Europe. Mattia Preti (Taverna 1613 – Valletta 1699) Saint Luke the Evangelist Oil on canvas 117.5 x 93.5 cm (to be verified; these measurements are taken from the expert report) The work is accompanied by an expert report by Professor Nicola Spinosa, available via email.