Rosso Fiorentino
Giovanni Battista di Jacopo was born on the 8th of March 1495 in Florence. His red hair gave him the nickname Rosso Fiorentino, which means Florentine Redhead in Italian. He trained alongside his contemporary Pontormo in the studio of Andrea del Sarto. This early period produced works like Holy Family with the Infant Saint John the Baptist around 1521. Cherub Playing a Lute appeared at the Uffizi Gallery during this same timeframe. The Infant Saint John the Baptist remains in a private collection today.
Rosso moved to Rome in late 1523 to study the works of Michelangelo and Raphael. Exposure to these Renaissance masters realigned his artistic style completely. He witnessed the violent events that followed when the city fell to imperial troops in 1527. Fleeing Rome after the Sacking forced him to leave everything behind. The chaos of that year drove many artists away from the capital. Rosso eventually found himself traveling toward France instead of returning home.
He secured a position at the court of Francis I in 1530. Rosso remained there until his death while working on major projects. Together with Francesco Primaticcio he became one of the leading artists at Chateau Fontainebleau. Their collaboration formed part of what art historians call the First School of Fontainebleau. Much of his life was spent creating decorative schemes for the royal palace. After his death in 1540, Primaticcio took charge of the artistic direction alone.
His masterpiece is generally considered to be the Deposition or Descent from the Cross altarpiece. It hangs today in the Pinacoteca Comunale di Volterra where it was initially painted for the Duomo. The sky appears somber over a scene filled with three precarious ladders. Christ looks sallow as figures below display simple and forceful expressions of quiet grief. This composition contrasts sharply with the frozen grief seen in other depositions. A second darker and more crowded version exists for the church of San Lorenzo in Sansepolcro.
Rosso died on the 14th of November 1540 after years of service abroad. An unsubstantiated claim by Vasari suggests this death might have been suicide. His reputation along those of other stylized late Renaissance Florentines fell out of favor for centuries. Critics preferred naturalistic and graceful contemporaries over his contorted poses. Haggard and thin figures often appear in his work but carry considerable power. Photography helped bring attention to his masterpiece located away from tourist tracks. Critical appreciation has revived considerably in recent decades despite earlier neglect.
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Common questions
When was Giovanni Battista di Jacopo born and where?
Giovanni Battista di Jacopo was born on the 8th of March 1495 in Florence. He received the nickname Rosso Fiorentino because of his red hair.
Why did Rosso Fiorentino leave Rome in 1527?
Rosso fled Rome after the city fell to imperial troops during the Sacking of 1527. The violence forced him to abandon everything he owned and travel toward France instead of returning home.
Where is the Deposition altarpiece by Rosso Fiorentino located today?
The Deposition or Descent from the Cross altarpiece hangs today in the Pinacoteca Comunale di Volterra. It was initially painted for the Duomo before being moved to its current location.
Who were the leading artists at Chateau Fontainebleau under Francis I?
Francesco Primaticcio and Rosso became the leading artists at Chateau Fontainebleau together. Their collaboration formed part of what art historians call the First School of Fontainebleau.
How did Rosso Fiorentino die and when did this occur?
Rosso died on the 14th of November 1540 after years of service abroad. An unsubstantiated claim by Vasari suggests this death might have been suicide.